MURRAY RIVER COMMUNITIES

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question regarding the economic outlook for the River Murray communities of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I know it is joke time for you people, but there are serious issues to which we need answers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: South Australia is still facing the ravages of the worst drought in 100 years—maybe even 1,000 years. That has meant tough times for people along the River Murray who make a living out of farming or rely on farming communities for their businesses. A lot of blockies and shop owners have struggled, as has the River Murray struggled through the lack of inflows upstream and the scant rainfall across the state. The economy along the River Murray is more than just farming and irrigation. What is the government doing to encourage alternate job opportunities and investment while we wait for some relief in this long, dry spell?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question. It is a fact that many communities along the river continue to face challenging times due to the prolonged drought and the effects of climate change. While the farming community is incredibly stretched by the climatic conditions, there are ways the government can provide assistance and encouragement to people along the river. I am pleased to inform members that today, together with the Minister for the River Murray (Hon. Karlene Maywald), we have published a houseboat marina strategy that will give a much-needed shot in the arm to the economy along South Australia's major waterway.

South Australia's houseboat industry is estimated to generate more than $60 million a year into the state's economy both directly and through flow-ons to associated service industries. The draft Houseboat, Mooring and Marina Strategy for the River Murray in South Australia—which we will be making available for public comment for the next three months—seeks to improve the health of the river whilst supporting and enhancing tourism through this important industry. South Australia's houseboat industry—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Have you got something to say? Please, let's all share it. Let's all share your wisdom. So, what are you saying? She is not saying anything; it is just plenty of mumbling.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Obviously, it was not important enough to share it with us. The honourable member and other members might be interested to know that South Australia's houseboat industry relies for its economic survival on retaining the character and natural environment of the River Murray. A healthy working River Murray is essential for the future viability of this important industry, and the aim of this strategy is to protect and enhance the river environment while encouraging investment. This comprehensive marina strategy will encourage job creation and investment in rural South Australia at a critical time when farming communities along the River Murray remain stressed by the worst drought in a century.

Protecting, enhancing and restoring the health of the River Murray is a high priority for this state. The proposed strategy, which will guide the planning decisions of the state and local governments along the River Murray, is designed to encourage tourism-enhancing marina developments without compromising the environmental integrity of the river system. Key elements of this strategy include:

encouraging the development of off-river marinas to provide home ports for all houseboats (we will get them off the main river);

provision of site suitability criteria to ascertain the best locations for such marinas; and

trials of a formal mooring network for touring houseboats to minimise river damage.

In keeping with this strategy, the state government today conditionally approved a new residential marina development at Mannum in the Mid-Murray. The approval of the Mannum Waters residential marina project proposed by Tallwood Pty Ltd follows a comprehensive environmental assessment using the state's major development process. The Mannum Waters development sets a new benchmark for best practice marina and residential developments along the River Murray and is in keeping with the draft strategy published today.

Secure houseboat moorings off river and adopting comprehensive wastewater collection and spill containment will safeguard water quality at the marina. Work associated with the marina project will also enhance stormwater and wastewater treatment in the Mannum area, reduce pollution and improve the quality of inflows into the River Murray. Stage 1 of the development involves an investment of $15 million, which is expected to grow to $165 million once the project is fully constructed. The approved marina development on a 178-hectare site south of Mannum comprises:

a fully-serviced houseboat marina facility with 156 berths, waste disposal facilities and provision for permanent occupation;

a residential land division of up to 162 waterfront allotments, along with tourist accommodation and some retail and commercial opportunities;

stormwater retention basins and a constructed wetland system for water filtration;

the relocation of the Mannum Wastewater Treatment Plant from the floodplain, with opportunity for the reuse of the wastewater to irrigate the adjacent golf course.

The marina developer must ensure that all water discharge from the project into the River Murray is at least equal to the quality of river water. Tallwood will also be required to secure a water licence and sufficient allocation from the water-trading market, including the consideration of any restrictions that may apply at the time, before being allowed to fill the marina basin two years from today's authorisation at the earliest.

This will ensure that no additional water is taken from the river as the developers will have to buy existing allocations on the market. While the initial consideration of the Mannum Waters project predates the draft marina strategy, many of the issues covered in the assessment process pointed to the need for a consistent strategy for the houseboat industry in the South Australian reaches of the river.

The formal three-month feedback period for the draft Houseboat Mooring and Marina Strategy for the River Murray will run from 18 November until 20 February 2009. Hard copies and CD ROM versions will be available from councils along the river from 18 November. Community information sessions will be held along the river and in Adelaide, with details of this program to be posted on the Planning SA website from 18 November. Feedback from this three-month process will be used to shape the final strategy, which will be used by state and local government to guide planning decisions. That draft is also available online at the Planning SA website.

I think it is important that, while much of the attention has been focused on other issues in the river, we do not forget that many of the commercial businesses in the Riverland and along other parts of the river are struggling and it is important that we should give those people our support. That is why, at this time, with this marina strategy, we can not only help clear up some of the environmental issues, which I suppose are facing the river, but also encourage the growth of that industry to provide some economic support for that region.