Parliamentary Committees

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: MURRAY FUTURES RIVERINE RECOVERY PROJECT

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (11:04): I move:

That the 397^th report of the committee, entitled Murray Futures Riverine Recovery Project—Critical On-Ground Works, be noted.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:04): I would like to just emphasise a few concerns that I have about the riverine recovery project, which has taken forever to go through the Public Works Committee. I had concerns and I came in and gave some evidence to the committee prior to Christmas 2010 with concerns that, with the rehabilitation of these three projects—obviously the Yatco Lagoon, the Katfish Reach fishways and the Pike River flood plain—some water is going to have to be given back to the federal government for the cost of these projects, and I have not been given an answer as to exactly where the water is coming from.

I have asked, when giving evidence, just where it was coming from and I do not feel as though I got a satisfactory answer. Again, I ask the question. It needs to be disclosed exactly where the 15 gigalitres of water that is the trade-off for the funding for these three projects is coming from. My fear is that that 15 gigalitres of water will come from South Australia's diversion pool and I am very concerned that, if it is not disclosed exactly where it is coming from, irrigators will bear the burden.

Again, I am very happy to see that this project had a swift passage with its construction. These three projects are very credible projects in the electorate of Chaffey. The Yatco Lagoon, particularly, has a huge amount of evaporation, and they are going to pipe water to properties to reduce the evaporation. The native fish program at Katfish Reach is a credible project and the rehabilitation of the Pike River flood plain needs help. It has been degraded over a number of years, and the artificial watering of some of that flood plain is very much needed.

Motion carried.