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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-07-03 Daily Xml
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PORT HUGHES DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (15:07): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Water Security, a question about the dunes development on the Copper Coast.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Most members would be aware of the controversial $750 million Greg Norman dunes development at Port Hughes on the Copper Coast. A central question from the beginning has been where the water would come from for the golf course and the development, which will include the construction of 2,000 homes. I understand that a council report from March 2007 suggests that the 18-hole golf course will require between 1.5 and two megalitres of water per day. The option of a desalination plant has now been rejected, and apparently the golf course component will be sustained entirely through stormwater and reclaimed or treated water. The treated water is to be sourced from a proposed community waste water scheme, which obviously is yet to be constructed. There has also been concern about the use of mains water to dampen down dust, with residents reporting up to 60 tankers per day carting mains water to the development. My questions to the minister are:

1. What quantity of mains water has been approved for use by the developers to control dust during the construction of the dunes?

2. Is the developer paying the full price for that water and, if not, what is the price?

3. What advice has SA Water provided to the minister, the council or the developer about the feasibility of using waste water?

4. Has SA Water considered that Moonta, Moonta Bay and Port Hughes may require access to their treated water if the climate change predictions are correct?

5. Has SA Water given any undertakings to the developers to provide mains water if a community waste water scheme is not built or treated waste water is not available?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her important questions. In fact, I was in the area just the other week and happened to visit the site out of general interest.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I was visiting in my electorate, which includes all South Australia. That is where I was visiting—in my electorate. Anyway, while I was visiting in my electorate, I happened to pop out to Port Hughes out of general interest and I had a look at the development. My understanding is that the plan to pursue a desal development has been dropped, and that they are looking for alternatives. In relation to the details around those alternatives, I am happy to refer those questions to the appropriate minister in the other place and bring back a response.

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