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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-11 Daily Xml
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POINT LOWLY

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development a question about Point Lowly.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: Members would be aware of proposals for the industrialisation of the Point Lowly peninsula, including the development of port facilities, a refinery and a desalination plant. I had the pleasure of visiting Point Lowly during the winter break to have a look at the natural environment there, in the company of local residents. Indeed, it is a special part of South Australia.

The main concern of local residents is the impact on the marine environment of industrialisation of the peninsula. My question is: if scientific evidence shows that further industrial development of the Point Lowly peninsula would be harmful to the giant cuttlefish, which breed just off shore, will the government scrap plans for an expanded industrial precinct in that location?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:34): Point Lowly is already an industrial site. It is, of course, the site of the Santos liquids plant, which in recent days has caused some trouble for taxi owners because water was leaked into the LPG system—but that is another story.

It is, of course, a very strategic location because it is really the closest point to the northern regions of our state at which there is reasonable access to deep water. The jetty currently used by Santos for the loading of liquids goes down, I think, to about 18 or so metres, so that it will take large ships. The honourable member mentioned the giant cuttlefish, and I know they are a very important part of the biosphere of the region. In fact, one of the first things I did when I became the minister was to extend the area in question. Originally, I am not sure whether it was the Hon. Caroline Schaefer or the Hon. Rob Kerin who put a temporary closure on that area of the bay near Point Lowly to protect the cuttlefish.

That is one of the issues I dealt with—to put that on a more permanent basis to protect those cuttlefish. This government certainly recognises the importance of those cuttlefish. Certainly, there have been a number of proposals for activities there, and the government will obviously be considering all those issues in relation to any further development of that site in relation to the desalination plant that is proposed.

The honourable member will be well aware that there will be an environmental impact study that will specifically look at that issue. Indeed, BHP has already had a trial plant, looking at gathering information in relation to the impact of the desalination plant at that site. The government is well aware of the importance of cuttlefish in that area and, as I have said, I remember taking action to further extend the protection of cuttlefish. Obviously, we will continue to act to protect those cuttlefish but, clearly, we need further information in relation to the environmental impact statement on the entire area before the government makes a decision on this matter.

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