SOUTH-EAST AERIAL IMAGERY PROJECT

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Minister, how will natural resources management in the South-East of South Australia benefit—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I think there is a camera up there that is filming someone who is not on their feet. No, it is okay. Member for Little Para, repeat your question.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr ODENWALDER: I know, that's right—I'm on my feet.

The SPEAKER: It's your one minute of fame. Repeat your question.

Mr ODENWALDER: My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. How will natural resources management in the South-East of South Australia benefit from the acquisition of new aerial imagery?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:42): I thank the honourable member for this very important question. The South-East Aerial Imagery Project is a $200,610 initiative of the South East Natural Resources Management Board developed with the assistance of the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources that will be undertaken in early 2013. The project will provide an update to existing aerial imagery which is now more than five years old. The scope of the project covers the area from and including the Coorong and Lower Lakes and east to the Victorian border (including most of Ngarkat Conservation Park) then all areas south, including the coast.

This will assist improved natural resources management throughout the South-East region, including helping to monitor changes in native vegetation and land use—for example, in identifying the occurrence of illegal native vegetation clearance and evaluating the effectiveness of weed control and revegetation programs. It is planned for this imagery to become available as a resource for the public. The project proposes to capture digital imagery over the South-East region of South Australia, with some higher resolution imagery to be acquired around Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell.

The partners funding this excellent initiative along with the South East Natural Resources Management Board include local government, the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board, ForestrySA, the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board and the South-East Resource Information Centre, which provide spatial information services to the Green Triangle area. The funding partners have recognised the immense value in becoming involved in this initiative. New imagery will be very useful for farmers and the South East NRM Board when developing sustainable farming plans by providing up-to-date information on infrastructure and land condition.

The Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board SA can use the information to measure the extent and health of vineyards and vines in important wine production areas like the Coonawarra, Padthaway, Mount Benson and Wrattonbully wine regions. ForestrySA has also invested in acquiring this information to help better understand the extent of commercial forest plantations.

This is another project that underscores the importance of the work that is being undertaken through an integrated natural resource management approach, which not only addresses challenges from a sustainable environmental perspective but also helps to ensure the sustainability of our critically important primary industries, ultimately helping to maintain and promote new investment and job opportunities.