STORMWATER HARVESTING

Ms FOX (Bright) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Water. How is the government progressing with the management of stormwater in Greater Adelaide?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for her question; and she, probably more than anyone in the house, would understand the impact of stormwater on her very beautiful electorate.

As stated in Water for Good—our state's plan to ensure our water future to 2050—South Australia is a national leader in stormwater recycling. I am advised that the scale of stormwater harvesting initiatives in South Australia exceeds that of other states and territories in Australia.

Members will also be aware that Water for Good includes a number of actions and targets relating to stormwater. One of those targets is the harvesting of 20 gigalitres of stormwater per annum for non-drinking purposes in Greater Adelaide by 2013. I am advised that, once all committed schemes are complete, the estimated harvest capability of stormwater is expected to exceed the target of 20 gigalitres by 2013. However, our longer term targets are much more ambitious than this. Our target for 2050 is the provision of up to 60 gigalitres per annum of recycled stormwater for non-drinking purposes in Greater Adelaide. That is why action 16 in Water for Good requires the development of a master plan to effectively manage stormwater in Adelaide.

I am therefore pleased to announce that I have established a high-level stormwater task force to provide a collaborative approach to improving stormwater management. The task force will provide input into the development of the government's stormwater strategy to help ensure that we make good on our stormwater harvesting and recycling targets. The strategy will address key matters such as roles and responsibilities for stormwater management and flood management, as well as providing a foundation for the development of a stormwater master plan which is due for completion by 2012 as outlined in Water for Good.

The strategy will be a government policy document which will prioritise the challenges that need to be addressed to achieve our targets for stormwater. The task force met for the first time on 28 September. It includes representatives from the Goyder Institute, the Local Government Association, the Department for Water, SA Water, natural resources management boards and the Stormwater Management Authority. It is also the case that action 84 in Water for Good provides that the government will work with the Local Government Association to review and update the governance of the Stormwater Management Authority.

Since the Authority was set up in 2007, our changing climate has seen stormwater become an increasingly important source of water for South Australia. That is why Water for Good emphasises that the review should ensure that the governance arrangements of the authority put the right emphasis on stormwater harvesting and reuse. The review which has been completed will inform an update of the stormwater management act and the Stormwater Management Agreement between the state government and the Local Government Association.

The recommendations from the review, which was jointly commissioned by the government and the Local Government Association, have been provided to the government and the LGA and will be addressed through a targeted consultation process. The stormwater task force will also be asked to provide input into this process.

The creation of this task force and the development of a stormwater master plan are the next key steps that will build on the excellent work already done by the government and local councils in stormwater harvesting and reuse. These initiatives will ensure that we maintain our reputation as leading the nation in stormwater recycling and that we achieve the stated targets.

I will continue to update the house with future announcements and achievements as we develop a comprehensive strategy for the future management of stormwater in South Australia.