EYRE PENINSULA

In reply to the Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (4 April 2012).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): The Minister for Water and the River Murray has been advised:

Under Water for Good, the State Government is required to prepare Regional Demand and Supply Statements for each Natural Resources Management region throughout the State by 2014.

The Regional Demand and Supply Statements are the State Government's key strategy to ensure that long-term water security solutions for each region are based on a thorough understanding of the state of all local water resources, the demand for these resources and likely future pressures.

Tumby Bay falls into the Eyre Peninsula region. The annual review of the Eyre Peninsula Demand and Supply Statement was released on 13 April 2012. The annual review was based on the best available information, provided by a range of organisations including, but not limited to, Local Government, the Resources and Energy Sector Infrastructure Council, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Department for Water, SA Water, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy.

Upon review of the demand-supply projections, under a worst-case scenario of high population growth, demand for drinking quality water is not projected to exceed supply until 2023-24.

Therefore, at this stage it is considered that there is sufficient water to meet demand in the Eyre Peninsula. However, in keeping with the Water Industry Act 2012, the assumptions underlying the projections will be reviewed in twelve months' and, should anything change, such as less water being available from the prescribed wells areas or increased demand from population growth or mining, the timing for the demand-supply projections and associated Independent Planning Process will be adjusted accordingly.