LAKE BONNEY

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:18): My question is directed to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. What steps are being taken to improve the ecological health of Lake Bonney?

Mr Pengilly: It was on the radio this morning, Paul. I heard it.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (14:18): At least you didn't have to read it on Facebook, but I am glad that you did hear it.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I don't have a Facebook; this is the only face. I thank very much the honourable member for her question and again acknowledge her very significant commitment to environmental issues.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I can't hear the minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Lake Bonney was temporarily disconnected from the River Murray channel in September 2007 in order to provide water savings to contribute to critical human water needs during 2007-08. Ongoing drought conditions across the Murray Darling Basin resulted in an extended period of disconnection.

To ensure that salinity thresholds at Lake Bonney were not exceeded during the disconnection period, the lake received water allocations in 2008 of 10 gigalitres and in 2009 of 26 gigalitres, and in 2010 the state government has allocated an additional 25 gigalitres of water to the lake. The South Australia Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (SAMDBNRM) Board is responsible for overseeing this watering event, which has begun today and will take approximately four months to complete.

This volume of water is expected to significantly raise water levels within the lake, bringing the levels close to pool level. Importantly, this significant volume of water is expected to reduce the salinity level in the lake from 18,200 EC to approximately 13,000 EC. Water will enter the lake through the existing temporary regulator structure at Nappers Bridge, which has the capacity to transfer up to 350 megalitres of water a day.

A carp separation cage—and I know you are very interested in this, Madam Speaker—is in place at Lake Bonney and when operating is expected to capture and remove a large number of carp that will be attracted to the inflowing water. The results from the ecological monitoring program will continue to be publicly available through the SAMDBNRM Board website, which is updated regularly, to service the considerable community interest.

The South Australian government has worked closely with the Lake Bonney Community Management Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Berri Barmera Council, since its inception, to identify and assess potential surface water and groundwater management options in order to improve the long-term ecological health of the lake. The state government provided $100,000 in funding to support a program of works that provide significant environmental outcomes.

The South Australian government recognises the importance of Lake Bonney to the local community, from environmental, recreational and economic standpoints and, as such, the South Australian government is committed to working closely with the Lake Bonney community to ensure that a healthy future exists for the lake.