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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-14 Daily Xml
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TORRENS ISLAND

The Hon. M. PARNELL (16:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, representing the Minister for Planning, a question about Torrens Island.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: On 11 March last year the state government lodged a plan of industrial subdivision over 43.6 hectares of Torrens Island with the Development Assessment Commission pursuant to section 49 of the Development Act. Under this section the final decision-maker is the Minister for Planning, following advice from the Development Assessment Commission.

The development application states that the purpose of the subdivision is to enable long-term leases to be granted to SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute) for research and for a micro-algae production farm, and also to Origin Energy for extensions to the existing power station and to Maritime Constructions Pty Ltd for storage and maintenance of vessels and material.

What is now clear is that the development application is inconsistent with a number of recent government commitments, including the extension of the Torrens Island Conservation Park, which overlaps the proposed subdivision, and the promise of a study into the tourism potential of the State heritage-listed old quarantine station. The proposal is also inconsistent with the zoning for the area under the development plan, which is in two parts: there is a public purpose quarantine station zone and a metropolitan open space system conservation zone. Industrial development under that second zone is listed as non-complying.

What is also clear is that the government did not consult the EPA. Other government agencies, such as Heritage SA and the Native Vegetation Council, were consulted but not the EPA, the body with responsibility for ensuring that industrial development is located and operated appropriately and safely to protect the environment and public health, and no community groups or environment groups were consulted.

What is more, all the submissions from government agencies that were made to the development application process are currently secret. The agencies have not released them, the Development Assessment Commission refused to provide them, and the Development Assessment Commission also refuses to provide copies of the subdivision plans, despite the provisions of the Development Act and regulations allowing members of the public to inspect development applications. My questions of the minister are:

1. Has the government officially notified the Development Assessment Commission that the development application has been withdrawn? If not, when will this be done? I note that the application is still live on the DAC website.

2. Will the government commit to undertaking a master plan process for future development on Torrens Island before relodging any further subdivision or other development applications?

3. Will the government commit to a broad community and agency consultation process, including the EPA and the newly-formed Friends of Torrens Island, in relation to the master plan before proceeding further with any industrial development plans?

4. Will the government make available for public inspection the submissions that have already been lodged by government agencies over the development, in particular those submissions by the Native Vegetation Council, Heritage SA and the Port Adelaide Enfield Council?

5. Will the government ensure that any future development on Torrens Island is consistent with the planning scheme?

6. Will the government open up the development assessment process to public scrutiny by insisting that the Development Assessment Commission make plans and submissions available to the public on request?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (16:33): I will be pleased to refer those questions to the Minister for Planning in another place and bring back a response.

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