Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Is the price of water from the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme, including the initial capital contribution required, competitive when compared to other recycled water schemes across Australia?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (15:06): It's not for me to make a judgment as to whether it is competitive or not because that is, in my view, for the market to decide and to drive. Clearly, three gigalitres of water have already been signed up to and people have been willing to pay the prescribed rates for that. I understand that SA Water are contacted on a weekly basis by potential buyers of that water and, as I mentioned, there are a number of commercial negotiations in their advanced stages, so I would suggest that the trajectory is evidence that the price of this water is competitive.