NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: EYRE PENINSULA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD

Mr RAU (Enfield) (11:59): I move:

That the 14th report of the committee, entitled Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board levy proposal 2007-08, be noted.

I am sure everyone will be pleased to hear that this is the final report the committee will be tabling this year in respect to NRM levies. It contains the same recommendations as the other reports we have already tabled on NRM levies—that is, with the exception, of course, of the KI report about which I have already made some remarks. However, some specific issues arose during the consideration of the levy proposed by the Eyre Peninsula board, which I would like to highlight. The Eyre Peninsula NRM region covers a substantial portion of South Australia. It is the most sparsely populated region in which a levy is raised, and it has around 1,800 kilometres of surrounding coast and associated marine environments. With a population of around 65,000, this relatively small revenue base, and its very large demand for NRM services is the main reason for the large individual levies that were proposed and the main source of contention for the board.

Debate adjourned.