Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-03 Daily Xml

Contents

DESALINATION PLANT

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:16): I have a supplementary question. Given the minister's remarks about the sensitivities of environmental issues at Port Stanvac, will the minister indicate whether the government is prepared to listen to the wishes of the southern community and reconsider the second opportunity—that is, further south around Cape Jervis—to overcome the problems with marine biology degradation and the like?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:17): The environmental impact statement found that, providing the 11 conditions to which I referred and the environmental authorities are in place, the new Adelaide desalination plant can meet the environment standards necessary for such a facility. It would not be appropriate to start the whole process again, and I believe there would then be a whole lot of new issues about shifting the water from the plant.

A lot of effort has been put into this process and there is a detailed report. I invite any member to look at that report, which is available on the Department of Planning and Local Government website. I believe that after this exhaustive process it is important we now get on with the process of building this plant and delivering water from it.