River Murray Salinity Levels

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:27): My question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Is the minister aware of the salinity slug entering the River Murray from Lake Bonney that now is threatening crop damage? If so, what measures is she taking to prevent that crop damage? With your leave, and that of the house, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr WHETSTONE: Irrigators below Nappers are worried that their crops might be damaged or destroyed due to the high salinity levels which have more than doubled in the last two days to 706 EC as a result of the government reopening Lake Bonney to the river system?

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) (15:28): Thank you very much for the question. Yes, I have been kept apprised of that increase in salinity. For the information of the chamber, that is still within the expected level and also within the level that has been regarded as the basin target.

The basin target is to keep salinity below 800 EC at Morgan for at least 95 per cent of the time. At present, the briefing I have had it at 626, but I accept that the member may well have a more up-to-date level which he just quoted, in the 700s because that is starting to lift. But the expectation is that it will stay below the 800 as it moves through.

The water level at Lock 3 has been dropping really sharply, as the member will be aware. It dropped 11 centimetres in 24 hours the day before yesterday. It is expected to be maybe one to two weeks before the lock can be reinstated appropriately. There isn't any way to slow down the recession, to slow down the speed at which this is occurring. The department is closely monitoring the salinity levels. As I say, given that it is within what was anticipated and what is accepted as a basin-wide target for 95 per cent of the time, we will continue to monitor that at this stage.