RIVERINE RECOVERY PROJECT

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the house about the Riverine Recovery Project and, in particular, recent work going on at the Pike flood plain?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his incredibly perspicacious question and I do happen to be prepared for this question with a briefing just recently, so I can give him some response.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: It is, but I am immersing myself in briefings thoroughly day by day. The Riverine Recovery Project is a component of the Murray Futures program, a program that was announced jointly by the federal water and environment minister, the Hon. Tony Burke, and my predecessor, the Hon. Paul Caica.

Funding for a variety of projects under the Murray Futures banner included $78 million from the commonwealth and $8.7 million from the Jay Weatherill government announced in June 2011, and an early works injection of an additional $9.2 million from the commonwealth and state governments in March this year. I am advised that funding now totals about $100 million and under this banner, there are a number of projects that I am sure many in this chamber would find of incredible interest, if only they were to listen.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mine is a flat white, thanks David. But perhaps one of the most exciting is the major works occurring on three important flood plains including Pike's flood plain. Pike's flood plain is one of South Australia's oldest irrigation areas, first settled in the late 19^th century. Widespread irrigation at Pike's occurred in the 1960s, I am advised, but even before then, landholders and irrigators were proactive in the management of salinity and environmental degradation.

Historically, the people of that region have always been interested in the health of the river and how their small part of it can be managed sustainably. I am pleased to advise that their foresight and their commitment to the region has got us to where we are now. Following the recent inundation in the area, most of Pike's flood plain is now accessible to vehicles, meaning important works can now commence. These works involve the creation of new infrastructure across the flood plain that will manage water in a superior way. This will include upgrading the inlet regulators, improving bridge structures and reworking embankments.

Research has shown us that the existing embankments prevent water exchange, provide no fish passage and cannot be manipulated and managed to meet changing environmental outcomes. Therefore, the proposed new structures at banks—and these are very ingeniously named—at banks B, C, D, F, F1, G and H—

The Hon. G.E. Gago: A lot of thought went into that.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —a lot of thought; maybe we will have a competition to rename them—and further works at Snake Creek Stock Crossing and Coombs Bridge—much more evocative names—will cater for native fish movement and deliver much more flexible management of water into and out of the flood plain. Most importantly, it will do so under a range of differing flow conditions.

This work is also accompanied by a three-year monitoring program by scientists to better understand fish species and habitat diversity throughout the flood plain. A local team of Aboriginal people have also been employed within the project assisting in pest, plant and animal control, revegetation, track rationalisation and the removal of disused infrastructure and refuse. Officers in my department are confident that these works will go a long way to restoring native fish stocks and some of the iconic vegetation species, such as river red gums, black box and the river cooba.