ORROROO WATER SUPPLY

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Water and the River Murray a question about the Orroroo water supply.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Orroroo residents have described their town's bore water supply as too saline to use, with reports of it killing garden plants, corroding house pipes and proving far too salty to drink. The high salinity of the town's water supply was first raised by the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton in 2000. The Orroroo town of 500 residents said that the main water supply of bore water is unpalatable and such levels of salt have been labelled as a huge risk to the health of those who regularly consume it, as quoted by Dr Jacqui Webster on the ABC on 7 March 2013.

The council CEO, Iain Wilson, reported that the council of the last two years has spent over $27,000 on researching and developing a business case, which was presented to SA Water, politicians and various bodies as a solution to better the water supply of Orroroo. Mr Wilson states:

We've done most of the heavy lifting on the reports. We'd hoped that SA Water would now come on board and actually start to put some money into this project because at the end of the day Orroroo residents are not getting the quality of water they deserve.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What consultations has the Minister for Water had with the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton and their constituents?

2. With the local council active in finding solutions and spending $27,000 on the development of a business case, what actions and research studies has the government instigated to help this regional town in improving its water quality?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. I should ascertain whether she is suggesting in her question that in fact SA Water should embark on such enterprises without having a business case done. Surely she is not! I am advised that SA Water has held discussions with Orroroo council regarding water quality improvement. I understand that the Orroroo community has requested the assistance of SA Water and the construction of a desalination plant in the town.

Capital funding for improving the quality of Orroroo water supply is currently programmed in for 2018. I am advised that for SA Water to consider any contribution to the proposed capital works it requires a written business case. Well, of course, it does. I just cannot fathom how the honourable member can stand here and suggest that SA Water should just stump up some money for a water desalination plant without having done the due diligence, without the council having done the due diligence—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, you'll be eating your words! The next time this state faces a drought, the next time there are water restrictions in this place, you'll be in here congratulating us for doing what we have done. You will eat your words!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You are an idiot.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, they don't seem to understand that, when Western Australia built a 50 gigalitre desal plant, what did they do? They turned around and bought another one—and it cost them more. This government plans for the future: that is the difference. This government plans for the future—they have no idea about the future. They in fact have no plans whatsoever.

SA Water understands that the council is working with companies that deliver desal options using traditional and proven technology. I am advised that during the last financial year the Orroroo water supply has been compliant with the Australian drinking water guidelines. The Department for Health and Ageing considers the supply potable.

The council recently submitted two documents for SA Water's review: an integrated management plan for Orroroo and the Orroroo community desalination project business proposal. SA Water will now undertake an internal technical review of the council's proposal. SA Water will, of course, liaise with the council to obtain any additional information or clarification on matters such as water quality, capacity, technical standards, asset ownership, construction and funding. SA Water will continue to work with the council and the community to identify any alternative funding model that might bring forward a water quality improvement for the town, while meeting the Australian drinking water guidelines and other water quality requirements.