Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Parliamentary Committees Parliamentary Committees Natural Resources Committee: South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MURRAY-DARLING BASIN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:03): I move: That the 29^th report of the committee, on South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board Levy Proposal for 2009-10, be noted. One of the Natural Resources Committee's statutory obligations is to consider and make recommendations on any levy proposed by a natural resources management board where the increase exceeds the annual CPI rise. The 2009-10 levy proposal for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board exceeds the 5.1 per cent CPI rate, with the board proposing a 20 per cent increase in the division 1 land-based levy and a 10 per cent increase in its division 2 water levy. In line with its default position that levies should not generally exceed CPI, the committee originally recommended to the minister, on 14 May 2009, that both levy increases should be limited to CPI. Upon receipt of this recommendation, the minister suggested a meeting between the committee and the board to discuss the proposed levies and works. Consequently, the committee took evidence from the board's general manager, Mr John Johnson, and the presiding member, Mr Bill Paterson, at Parliament House on 4 June 2009. Following this evidence, the committee advised the minister of its final decision not to object to the proposed levies. The rationale behind this robustly debated decision was that, in its appearance before the committee, the board provided a good account of itself and a thorough justification for the planned expenditure. Critically, the committee also heard evidence, both here and in the Riverland, that the local community were generally supportive of the board's programs, and no evidence or submissions were received to contradict this. While in the Riverland in May 2009, the committee took time to meet with board members and staff, as well as local irrigators and levy payers. The trip included an inspection of Lake Bonney, involving a meeting with local community members on the now greatly expanded banks of the lake, and a tour through the Loveday irrigation district, where we saw abandoned and dying grapevines. The visit also included an inspection of the Yatco wetland water saving project. For members who are unaware of this project, it is an impressive board supported wetland rejuvenation project that has seen a formerly permanent wetland isolated from the main channel to reduce evaporation and reinstated to a wetting and drying cycle more closely mimicking a natural system. The ecological response to this locally conceived project has been rapid and striking, and it serves as a positive example to others. In addition, the committee recognises that, even taking into account the proposed increases in both division 1 and division 2 levies, the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board levies remained the lowest in the state. I thank all those who gave their time to assist the committee with its statutory obligation. I also commend the members of the committee: the Hon. Graham Gunn, the Hon. Steph Key, the Hon. Caroline Schaefer, the Hon. Lea Stevens, the Hon. David Winderlich and Mr John Rau, who was the chairperson. Finally, I thank the committee staff for their assistance. I commend the report to the council. Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.