MOUNT BOLD RESERVOIR

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): My question is again to the Premier. Has the Premier's promise to expand Mount Bold reservoir at a cost of $850 million become unworkable and unaffordable and is that the reason why this week, for the first time on the public record, he and his water minister are distancing themselves from the project and suggesting that it may not proceed.

A search of that record has revealed no suggestion from the government that the Mount Bold project may not proceed other than the revelations made in parliament this week. In the Premier's budget week media release on water security, he said this:

SA Water has conducted an initial scoping study into vastly increasing the capacity of Mount Bold reservoir.

Again on 6 September the Premier's media release says:

SA Water is also investigating vastly increasing the capacity of Mount Bold Reservoir.

On 11 September last year the Premier's media release on future directions for water security said:

Cabinet has also been considering the Mount Bold proposal to expand our storage capacity estimated to cost in excess of $850 million.

However, yesterday during question time the Minister for Water Security said (and I am quoting from Hansard) 'Nothing new.' She said, 'we are investigating a range of sites in the Mount Lofty Ranges to double our catchment capacity. Mount Bold is one of those.'

An honourable member: What are the others?

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: 'This is no news,' she said.

The Hon. K.A. Maywald interjecting:

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: No, you didn't.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Water Security.

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Trade) (14:29): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think the leader's explanation answers the question very well.