WATERING TIMES

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) (15:10): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD: With daylight savings ending this weekend, I advise that changed watering times will be introduced to ensure that South Australians can continue to water efficiently and in the daylight. As of 6 April 2006, the new hours will be that dripper systems and hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle can be used on one day a week for up to three hours from either 7am to 10am or 4pm to 7pm. Even-numbered properties are allowed to water on Saturday and odd-numbered properties on Sundays. Changes to watering times will not affect current permits for the elderly and the disabled. Consistent and above average rainfall throughout the Murray-Darling Basin is required before restrictions can be eased, and water availability is being monitored on a monthly basis.

All South Australians are doing a fantastic job in saving water. From 1 January to 31 March this year Adelaide has used 44,883 megalitres of water. This is 29 per cent less water than was used in the last drought year of 2002 over the same period. This is an outstanding achievement, and I thank all South Australians for their commitment to conserving water across the state.