SAVE THE RIVER MURRAY LEVY

154 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (30 September 2008). How much revenue has been raised from the Save the Murray Levy since its introduction and how is this revenue spent?

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security): I am advised that to 30 June 2008 $95.4 million has been raised under the Save the River Murray Levy since its inception in October 2003.

The Save the River Murray Levy is being directed towards a package of works and measures to improve the health of the river system. These include:

the state contribution to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission for programs including Salt Interception Schemes, management of the Living Murray Icon Sites and the Living Murray Environmental Works and Measures Program. South Australia receives funding from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to deliver on these programs;

South Australia's contribution of $65 million over five years towards the $500 million, Basin-wide initiative to return 500 GL of environmental flows to the River Murray by 2009;

implementation of the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse Water Allocation Plan;

making water users accountable for salinity impacts;

scientific research and information;

environmental flows and wetland management;

water quality improvement;

conserving the River Murray's ecology;

upgrading the River's waste disposal stations and drainage disposal system;

improved water management of the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges; and

River Murray Environmental Manager operations associated with the icon sites.

Much greater detail about these and other measures is provided in the Save the River Murray Fund annual reports that are available on the website www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au.