The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning a question about coastal zones.
 Leave granted.
 The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Last month I wrote to the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning in relation to concerns about a growing trend in local councils to narrow the coastal zones in their areas. In her reply, received yesterday, the Minister stated that the coastal and marine section of the Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs has pursued the narrowing of the coastal zone within certain parts of the State with the support of Planning SA. The Minister says that this has been done to ensure that policies applying to sensitive areas such as sand dunes, hazard areas and significant State amenity areas do not extend to areas which are not environmentally sensitive. She said that, where a coastal zone was reduced, the land affected would generally be included in a general farming zone or similar, and she argued that that would promote the retention of broadacre farmland free of urban development.
 There is some concern that reducing the coastal zone will encourage ribbon development along that zone. There is nothing stopping farmers with new coastal views, that is, views now contained within what will become general farming, as a result of the rezoning from rearranging their lots to create a series of smaller lots with sea views. One alterna-tive that has been suggested is the creation of a coastal fringe zone which could be controlled by a local council, similar to a river fringe zone. This would reduce the number of unnecessary referrals of development applications to the DEHAA coastal management section (and that has been identified as a problem), while at the same time recognising the special planning requirements of these areas.
 The Hon. Diana Laidlaw interjecting:
 The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: That is one suggestion that has been floated. I am not advocating it: I am just saying that it is one that might be worth looking at.
 The Hon. A.J. Redford: Leave him alone, Di. He has been very good today.
 The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: As usual. My questions to the Minister are:
 1. How can the Minister ensure that the reduced coastal zones do not lead to inappropriate ribbon development along our coastlines?
 2. Will the Minister consider the creation of coastal fringe zones to better protect the coastal fringes?
  The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: In terms of ribbon development along the coast, there is currently discussion with the Streaky Bay council and its PAR to restrict applica-tions by farmers for the subdivision of rural land on the coast, and there is active input from Planning SA to restrict such an `advance' in that area. I can advise the honourable member that Planning SA, with my encouragement, is being diligent in pursuing restriction on ribbon coastal development.
 The Hon. M.J. Elliott interjecting:
 The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: The Fleurieu Peninsula is quite an issue. As one who is familiar with the area, every time I travel between Victor Harbor and Goolwa I am amazed by what seems to be almost unfettered development. I appreciate that the honourable member has raised an import-ant concern. The narrowing of the zone by the Environment Protection Authority and Planning SA has been designed not to encourage ribbon development but to see that rezoning was extended to or maintained for rural pursuits.
 I have not received any application or proposal that I am aware of about a new zone of coastal fringe, but I would not mind pursuing the issue with the honourable member if he wishes. Until I have more information, I am loath to offer an opinion.