Lower Limestone Coast, Water Allocation Plan

In reply to the Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) ((23 June 2022).). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water): I have been advised:

The $800,000 allocated in the Mid-Year Budget Review and the review committed to by the South Australian Government are the same process, being the comprehensive review of the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan required by the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. A water allocation plan review evaluates the plan and considers whether it remains appropriate or requires amendment. If, in consultation with stakeholders, an amendment is identified as being required, the plan will then be revised. The review is currently scheduled to conclude in December 2023, with reports to be made publicly available shortly after. Should the review find that amendment to the current plan is required, the amendment process will commence in 2024.

The $800,000 contribution to the review of the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan is critical as it will support the groundwater modelling and monitoring required to update the science that supports the plan. The funding accelerates the review of the current plan, which means that any amendment, if required, can be bought into effect earlier.

Additional funding to support the review process comes from the Limestone Coast Landscape Board. These funds support staff resources, stakeholder and community consultation and additional studies required to support the review. The scale of investment needed will depend on whether the plan is required to be amended.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board publicly announced the commencement of the review on 12 July 2022. Extensive communication has already occurred, including letters to all licence holders, industry peak bodies, councils and key Government entities. An open expression of interest process for membership on a Stakeholder Advisory Group was also announced with the terms of reference, role of the Stakeholder Advisory Group and process to select the Group publicly available. The Stakeholder Advisory Group will include members who represent the diversity of community, environment, primary production and industry in the Lower Limestone Coast.

The newly announced review will not duplicate the previous review. The science review of the 2013 Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan specifically reviewed the science underpinning the reductions.