DESALINATION PLANT

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations, representing the Minister for Water, questions regarding the Adelaide desalination plant.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: Whilst never having been officially confirmed by AdelaideAqua, I have been contacted by a number of proponents involved in the desalination plant project who have all independently stated that the initial projected target for first water from the desalination plant was 10 October 2010.

I understand that in November 2008, the government spent $79 million to accelerate the deadline to December 2010 for first water and that this deadline was not met. I further understand that the deadline was delayed in December 2010 to April 2011 and then further delayed again in April to July 2011.

I am told that first water is regarded to have been achieved once 10 per cent of the first 50-gigalitre capacity is produced continuously. On 28 July, in response to a question asked by the member for MacKillop, the minister stated:

We are on track for the completion of the desal plant and we are on track for the production, if you like, of the first drop of water that will come out of the desal plant.

Further, on 31 July, the minister provided a media release entitled, 'First desalinated water produced from Adelaide plant'. My questions are:

1. Can the minister clarify what the difference is between first drop and first water?

2. Can the minister advise what the flow rate of the water from the desalination plant was during his visit on 31 July and what volume of water was produced?

3. Can the minister advise if there were any problems, including hydraulic, electrical or mechanical problems, encountered in producing the first drop of desalinated water on or around 31 July 2010 and, if so, have they now been fixed?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I will refer the questions to the Hon. Mr Caica in another place and get an answer back as soon as possible.