e-Bulletin
No. 9 of 2015, 27 May 2015
The environment's legal team since 1992 - protecting the public interest - evening the
odds
The EDO is an independent community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental
law. We offer professional legal advice and (in a small number of cases) representation, law
reform and policy work and community legal education.
Please feel free to forward this e-Bulletin within your networks.
EDO Overview:
In the last two weeks, your EDO has been "evening the odds" by:







Liaising with the Australian Network of EDOs on national law reform submissions;
Making a number of grant applications and meeting with EDO supporters and potential
project partners;
Drafting submissions for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission;
Advising on unconventional gas regulation
Advising clients on offshore oil and gas regulation
Continuing work on a community handbook covering mining and unconventional gas
regulation
Planning the EDO crowd funding campaign – coming soon!
Your generous gifts supporting your EDO:



In the last fortnight, we received $ 16,500 in gifts, via the Givenow website and other
donor sources - thank you!
Remember - your EDO needs $6900 per fortnight to continue our current services!!
Remember - your EDO has 5 weeks of funding left from the 2014 Law Foundation grant
until the money runs out and your EDO services are cut.
Help your EDO stay strong in 2015, make a gift to our SA environment, to your children and
your grandchildren – join us or make a tax-deductible donation.With the end of the tax year
looming – NOW is a great time to join the dots, add up those dollars and donate!
Thank you for your valuable contribution.
To join the EDO or to donate - please visit our website. We are also on Facebook. You
can phone us on (08) 8359 2222.
IN THIS BULLETIN:
NEWS AND EVENTS
South Australia


Reminder: EDO (SA) Fundraising Movie Night
Hydrogeology and the Law – seminar by Saul Holt QC, lead barrister in the QLD
Carmichael coal mine case
NOTICES AND INQUIRIES
South Australia



New Major Development announced – Adelphi Terrace hotel development, Glenelg
Kangaroo Island Golf Course Resort – Public Environmental Report released; public
consultation now open and public meeting to be held
Public consultation: Gawler Ranges National Park draft management plan
Commonwealth

Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Environmental Biosecurity – report released
PREVIOUS NOTICES: REMINDERS
NEWS AND EVENTS
South Australia
Reminder: EDO (SA) Fundraising Movie Night
The environment needs a good lawyer - help support your EDO!
SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2015
Why?We need your help to keep our services going. The work of the Environmental Defenders
Office (EDO) is vital in the struggle to conserve and enhance our rich and unique
environment. The EDO has had federal funding cut, and unlike other legal services for the
public, not reinstated. We provide environmental and planning advice to groups and individuals,
and believe that this is an important, unaligned, service in a democratic society.
How?Please come along to our first film fundraiser and enjoy a great evening with as many
friends, family and colleagues as you can muster in support of our continued service! Book
online here: http://www.edosa.org.au/filmnight
The film we are showing is “Woman in Gold”, the journey taken by one woman to recover a
famous painting by Gustav Klimt.
Ticket price of $25 includes a glass of Temple Bruer wine and nibbles. Doors open at 5:30pm
with the historic organ playing at 6.15pm followed by the movie at 6.30pm.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction on the night and best dressed in 1930s black and
gold wins a prize!
So come along, support the EDO and have a great night out!
Hydrogeology and the Law – seminar by Saul Holt QC, lead barrister in the QLD
Carmichael coal mine case
Hydrogeological issues have sat at the heart of series of legal cases deciding whether some of
the world’s largest coal mines should go ahead. The most recent is the challenge in
Queensland’s Land Court to Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin. The
mine will be one of the biggest in the world.
Saul Holt QC was the lead barrister in the case for the environmental group objecting to the
mine. He spent 8 days cross-examining and leading evidence on these issues. He will discuss
how the key questions played out in court and the major place that hydrogeological evidence
and experts are having in court cases around the country.
Where: Flinders University,TeleTheatre, Information Science and Technology (IST) Building,
Building 47, off Physical Sciences Road, Car park 15 - parking fees apply.
When:Thursday, 4 June 2015 at 3:30-5pm
NOTICES AND INQUIRIES
South Australia
New Major Development announced – Adelphi Terrace hotel development, Glenelg
The South Australian Minister for Planning, John Rau, has exercised his powers under s 46 of
the Development Act 1993 to declare a proposed integrated hotel development at Adelphi
Terrace in Glenelg to be a Major Development due to its “major economic importance” to the
State. The government describes the proposal as “…an integrated hotel development
comprising a range of one and two bedroom hotel suites, as well as townhouses, apartments
and penthouses to be available to the open market, together with a function centre, outdoor
recreation deck, cafe and bar, and associated car parking and infrastructure.”
Under the Major Developments process the next step is for the Development Assessment
Commission to determine an appropriate level of assessment, followed by the issuing of
guidelines for the preparation of an assessment document by the proponent. Once prepared,
that document will then be released for public comment.
Kangaroo Island Golf Course Resort – Public Environmental Report released; public
consultation now open and public meeting to be held
An earlier Major Development proposal, the Kangaroo Island Golf Course Resort put forward by
Programmed Turnpoint Pty Ltd in April 2014, has now reached the public consultation stage
with the release of its Public Environmental Report (PER). The project is for a links-style golf
course with associated infrastructure on Kangaroo Island to be located along the narrowest part
of the island, approximately 8 km SE of American River.
The development includes tourist accommodation and villas, and the potential construction of a
desalination plant. The proponent states that up to 80% of the development area is previously
cleared pasture, however part of the course will require use of Crown Land in the Coastal
Reserve abutting the site along a 2.1 km boundary.
Public consultation on the development is now open for a 6 week period, during which there will
be 2 public meetings held on Kangaroo Island.
Submissions
Written submissions are due by30 June 2015 and should be addressed to:
Minister for Planning
Attention: Robert Kleeman, Manager, Development Assessment (Investment
Management)
Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI)
GPO Box 1815
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Orvia email to: dpti.kigolfcourse@sa.gov.au
Public Meetings
The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure will be conducting the following
public consultation meetings during the public exhibition period:

Monday 15 June 2015 - 2:00pm to 7:00pm
Penneshaw Business Centre
99 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw SA

Tuesday, 16 June 2015 - 2:00pm to 7:00pm
Kingscote Council Chambers
43 Dauncey St, Kingscote SA
Public consultation: Gawler Ranges National Park draft management plan
The Gawler Ranges National Park Draft Management Plan has been released for public
comment in accordance with section 38 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The draft
plan sets out objectives and strategies for the ongoing protection and conservation of the
natural and cultural values of Gawler Ranges National Park. Four priority management
themes have been developed – ‘Protecting natural values’, ‘Respecting, recognising and
protecting the culture of the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal People’, ‘Providing high quality visitor
experiences’ and ‘Connecting histories’.
Submissions are due by 8 July 2015.
Regular SA Government Consultations
Below are links to a number of SA Government agencies and bodies who undertake regular
environmental audits or assessments open for public consultation. Whilst there are too many
such consultations for us to list them all fully in the e-Bulletin, the links are included here as they
may nevertheless be of interest to readers. The e-Bulletin will publish consultations in these
categories where we deem them to be of wide public importance.
Current Crown Developments and ‘Category 3’ Developments before the DAC
Current Ministerial Development Plan Amendments
Current DEWNR consultations
Current EPA license applications
Current DMITRE mining proposals
Commonwealth
Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Environmental Biosecurity – report released
On 26 June 2014 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Standing Committee on
Environment and Communication for inquiry and report:
The adequacy of arrangements to prevent the entry and establishment of invasive species likely
to harm Australia's natural environment.
The Committee has now finalised its report and recommendations, which are now available for
download from the above link.
Regular Commonwealth Government Consultations
Below are links to Federal Government agencies and bodies who undertake environmental
audits/assessments that may be open for public consultation. Whilst there are too many such
consultations for us to list them all in the e-Bulletin, the links are included here as they may
nevertheless be of interest to readers. The e-Bulletin will publish consultations in these
categories where we deem them to be of wide public importance.
Department of Environment Public Notices and Invitations to Comment
PREVIOUS NOTICES: REMINDERS
Employment Lands (Gillman/Dry Creek &Wingfield) DPA
 Submissions are due 25 May 2015.
Senate Inquiry into bill allowing farmers to refuse mining
 Submissions are due 29 May 2015.
SA Artificial Reef Project – public consultation
 Submissions are due 5 June 2015.
Productivity Commission Inquiry – Migrant Intake into Australia
 Submissions are due 12 June 2015.
Feral cat threat abatement plan – call for submissions
 Submissions are due 8 July 2015.
Nuclear Royal Commission – Issues Papers released
 Submissions for papers 1 & 4 are due 24 July 2015.
 Submissions for papers 2 & 3 are due 3 August 2015.