[Greens-Media] PARNELL: More Agencies Raise Concerns about Newport Quays

[Parnell]

Wednesday 27th October 2010
Media Release

More Agencies Raise Concerns about Newport Quays

Greens move for Parliament Inquiry


Greens MLC Mark Parnell will move this afternoon for a Parliamentary Inquiry into development issues in Port Adelaide as more agency submissions critical of the Newport Quays Dock One proposal come forward.

The Greens have obtained a copy of the submissions from SafeworkSA and the Department of Health to the Development Assessment Commission.  Both agencies have raised significant concerns about the impact on the health and safety of prospective Dock One residents if the development is to proceed.

"Once again we have more Government agencies saying this is simply the wrong place for more housing," said Greens MLC and planning lawyer Mark Parnell.

"Why is there such a rush to locate new houses in the area, when there are already major concerns about the air quality and safety for current residents?

"The submissions from SafeworkSA, the Health Department and the EPA raise huge questions about how the Government intends to manage the expansion of both polluting industry and new housing developments in Port Adelaide," he said.

Mark Parnell will move this afternoon for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the relationship between industrial and residential development on the LeFevre Peninsula and surrounding areas.  The inquiry will focus on the risk to health and safety and amenity of existing residents and potential new residents, as well as the impact of new residential development on existing industry.

"Unless we get the planning right, the health and safety of more residents will be at risk," Mr Parnell said. "At the heart of the problem is the decision to zone areas of land for housing close to polluting industry.  The buck well and truly stops with the Rann Government.

"We have the bizarre situation of the EPA having the power to stop industry being developed close to housing, but it doesn't have the power the stop housing being built close to industry.

"It's time the Parliament stood up for the people of Port Adelaide," he said.



For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893




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