Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Parliamentary Committees Parliamentary Committees Natural Resources Committee: Annual Report NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.P. Wortley: That the annual report of the committee 2006-07 be noted. (Continued from 26 September 2007. Page 759.) The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER Legislative Council The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (19:47): I want to make a few comments about the annual report of the Natural Resources Committee and to put on record my appreciation for the work of the staff and, indeed, the other members of the committee. It is a very good committee. We have all worked very well together and, to this stage, we have always managed to reach consensus resolutions. The committee made three field trips during the financial year: one attached to the investigation into natural resource management as applies to mining; one to Deep Creek; and a trip to Kangaroo Island. Each of those trips was very valuable. Unfortunately, I was unable to go on the Kangaroo Island trip but, again, each of those trips taught members who had not been into those areas a great deal about some of the issues that are part of natural resources management, particularly under the new act as it applies. A number of members also went to the annual conference last year, which was partly in Brisbane and partly in Cairns. While we were there, many of us took the opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef and have a look at marine parks management as it applies there. That is why I have some of the concerns that I have about the current act in South Australia. The Natural Resources Committee also has the duty to look at natural resource management plans as they apply if there is a proposal to alter the levy. I will speak to the investigations into a number of those natural resource management board plans next. However, and again, we spent quite some time looking not only at Kangaroo Island but also at the South-East management plan, the Northern and Yorke natural resources management plan and the Eyre Peninsula natural resources management plan. We also looked at water-affecting activities as they are prescribed by regulation. I look forward to the investigation that this committee will take into the Murray-Darling Basin, again, as it applies to natural resources management. I spoke mainly to thank the staff for their efforts (and it has been a very pleasant group with which to work) and also to commend the presiding member, John Rau. As I said, he has always managed to get a consensus of views from those of us with many differing opinions. Motion carried.