SA Election 2018: SA Best’s Nick Xenophon wants housing built on former Port Stanvac oil refinery site

THE sprawling former Port Stanvac oil refinery site would be turned into a mixture of housing, parks and commercial areas, under a plan by SA Best leader Nick Xenophon.

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THE sprawling former Port Stanvac oil refinery site would be turned into a mixture of housing, parks and commercial areas, under a plan by SA Best leader Nick Xenophon.

But oil giant ExxonMobil says it could be another decade before the site is safe for industrial use, and it isn’t under any obligation to make it suitable for housing.

Mr Xenophon said his proposal to remediate the site to a level where housing could be safely built would cost between $125 million and $150 million.

“It will pay for itself if done properly and this is what the people of the south need,’’ Mr Xenophon said.

“The fact is the southern suburbs have been ignored by Labor and taken for granted because they have been safe Labor seats.’’

SA Best said similar former industrial sites in Sydney and Melbourne had been made suitable for housing.

SA Best Leader Nick Xenophon in front of a safety sign at the Port Stanvac Refinery. Picture: AAP / Tracey Nearmy

The former Port Stanvac Oil Refinery in 1992. It was closed in 2003.

ExxonMobil, which closed the refinery 15 years ago, said works were underway to make the site suitable for future industrial use.

“The works currently underway include investigating soil and groundwater conditions to guide the plan to rectify any environmental impacts,’’ a spokesman said.

“Sufficiently remediating the site to a standard suitable for future industrial use is likely to take up to 10 years.”

Treasurer and State Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis dismissed Mr Xenophon’s plan for housing to be established at the old refinery.

“While housing might be nice, the south also needs employment lands,’’ Mr Koutsantonis said.

“Studies by Onkaparinga Council and the Southern Adelaide Economic Board identify a shortage of employment land rather than housing.”

Mr Koutsantonis said taxpayers would be forced to pay if Port Stanvac was rehabilitated to a high enough level for housing to be built. ExxonMobil is working towards opening up the foreshore for fishing and diving by 2020.