Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-28 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

CITY-WIDE LAND AUDITS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide a question about city-wide audits.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In May this year it was reported that infrastructure to support Mount Barker's radical expansion will be vastly more expensive than other districts. The Department of Planning and Local Government revealed that Mount Barker's hilly terrain means that the infrastructure cost per block will reach between $60,000 and $70,000 compared with between $30,000 to $40,000 in the flatter areas of our state. We already know that the land release will be one of the most expensive in the state's history. We also know that the state government has decided not to release submissions to Adelaide's 30-year plan.

In that same article in May this year, the department indicated that Mount Barker was selected for the population explosion after a city-wide audit. The article went on to state that the audit considered Murray Bridge and areas along the Southern Expressway for major growth. In fact, on the morning of that article being published, I informally asked the minister for a copy of that audit. He indicated that he would also like to see a copy and that he would get me a copy. I thought that, in fairness, I should apply formally, so I then wrote to the minister, and I have subsequently followed up with a number of emails. We are now in September, and we have not yet seen a copy of that audit. My questions are:

1. Where is the audit, and why is the minister keeping it secret?

2. Why will the government not share with the people of South Australia the details of that city-wide audit?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. I will refer them to the minister for planning and development in another place and bring back a response.