MURRAY-DARLING BASIN NATURAL RESOURCE CENTRE

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister update the chamber on the new Natural Resource Centre opened in Berri?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:43): On Thursday 4 April, I had the very great pleasure of travelling to the Riverland to launch the Natural Resource Centre in Berri. The Murray-Darling Basin region includes some of our most ecologically diverse and agriculturally productive areas of the state and, indeed, the country. Because of this, it is imperative we manage our resources in this area sensitively and sustainably.

History has shown us that the best way to do this is through collaboration, and that means collaboration with the community, collaboration with industry and collaboration with the traditional owners, and collaboration between all levels of government. That is why the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resource Centre is so important for that region.

It will be a place where the community, business, traditional owners and government will meet to discuss local regional natural resource management issues. It will be a place where people can access a broad range of services and information about land, water and biodiversity, irrigation improvement programs, national parks visitor information, and wildlife and environmental services and permits. Our intention is to make it even easier for communities to connect with their natural resource management boards and their local natural resource management groups, and to get involved in local issues.

A key example of this collaboration is the work of the Aboriginal Learning on Country program. I had the opportunity to speak with people involved in this program at the Kunggun Centre at Glossop and learn about the 12-month conservation and land management traineeships for Aboriginal community members with host employers in the region. This program aims to increase the involvement of Aboriginal people in natural resources management, increase their skills and knowledge and give them the experience and qualifications needed to continue working in the field.

Another example of this spirit of collaboration I want to highlight is the on-farm irrigation efficiency program and the private irrigation program, where the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board has been working with local irrigators to improve irrigation infrastructure and save water. I had the opportunity to meet with Dino and Veronica Sigismondi from Sovereign Vineyards to discuss their firsthand experience in participating in this program. They said their experience was overwhelmingly positive and will have benefits for their business for years to come.

The board, in collaboration with the irrigation industry, has secured $20.9 million from the Australian government's Water for the Future program to fund 144 irrigator projects. The board has also been advised that its latest bid for funding from the Australian government has been successful and will now bring an additional $36.5 million into the region for irrigation upgrades and improvements. Much of this is occurring around Pike's flood plain, and I was fortunate to travel along the Pike River to see firsthand how the community is working together on the Pike River Implementation Program, which aims to restore the ecological values of the Pike flood plain whilst maintaining the economic values of irrigated horticulture.

This program is the result of the community getting together, discussing the issues, forming the Pike River Land Management Group, a non-incorporated community-based committee, and then coming to government to tell us their concerns and what they thought needed to be done. This is an example of what can be achieved with real collaboration and it is my firm belief that we will see much more of this sort of decision-making in the future.

As I said earlier, the key to the success has been collaboration. If that collaboration is maintained then I have no doubt that the future of the region will be very bright indeed. I am looking forward to visiting the region again to talk about this government's collaboration with local communities along the River Murray and with the federal government to improve our lot.