Extreme Weather Conditions

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about how your government agencies have responded to yesterday's extreme weather event and power outage?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Yesterday, the state experienced unprecedented and severe weather events which resulted in power outages throughout the state. I am advised that the Bureau of Meteorology has said that this is a one in 50 year event, with gale force winds reaching up to 140 kilometres per hour in some parts of the state. The bureau has forecast heavy rain and ocean swells of up to 10 metres. I am also advised that over 80,000 lightning strikes have been reported in this state.

The State Emergency Service continues to be the control agency as we prepare for further severe weather this afternoon. I am advised that all government agencies are in a heightened state of preparedness. Of course, one of my agencies, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, continues to provide hydrology, mapping and incident management support to the SES. Critical data centres are on alert and DEWNR monitoring sites are providing essential information to assist with incident management. I am further advised that DEWNR will consider requests for operational support from the SES as they arise during the next 24 to 36 hours.

For the safety of visitors, DEWNR has closed all parks and reserves today in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, the Southern Flinders Ranges, Spring Gully Conservation Park and the Clare Valley. These parks will be closed until at least 2pm tomorrow while DEWNR undertakes risk assessment of campgrounds and other infrastructure.

Some park closures have also occurred in the Riverland, including Katarapko in the Murray River National Park, Chowilla Regional Reserve and Chowilla Game Reserve. The Mount Lofty and Wittunga botanic gardens closed yesterday and they are closed today. As a result of the weather forecast today, including severe wind gusts, the Adelaide Botanic Garden closed at 11am today. I am also advised that it is the first time the garden has closed since Queen Elizabeth's visit in the 1950s. I think this underscores the unprecedented nature of the storms affecting the state.

DEWNR will continue to monitor proposed rainfall and storm activity. Pending further rainfall, DEWNR may extend park closures. DEWNR teams will continue to undertake assessment of damage to parks, gardens and icon sites over the next 24 to 48 hours. Regional natural resources centres will reopen as power is restored across the state. In terms of water, it is important to reassure South Australians that tap water is still completely safe to drink. All metropolitan water treatment plants are fully operational, with adequate filtered water storage. I am advised that there is sufficient supply available to the metropolitan area.

All metropolitan sewerage treatment plants are fully operational and all but one—that being Wynn Vale—metropolitan sewerage pumping stations have full power. All pump stations are operational, even though nine of the 350 are experiencing faults. Crews are being deployed to address faults, as there has been a number of overflows during power outages. SA Water is deploying their customer service team and clean-up crews to affected properties in order to minimise disruptions to the community as much as possible.

In our regional areas there are ongoing issues as a result of continuing power outages that are being managed. Port Lincoln experienced a power outage again at 12.30am, I am advised, and backup generators are being used to operate sewerage systems. There is adequate water supply available through storage and we are seeking backup power supplies to continue supply beyond current tank levels. Whyalla currently has adequate water supply available through storage.

Crews lowered levels in all sewerage pump stations overnight and will continue to closely monitor them. Sewerage treatment plants and the network for Whyalla require additional generator support to maintain service. I am advised that additional generator support can be sourced. In the north of the state, Port Pirie and Port Augusta both have adequate water supply available through storage. Crews lowered levels in all sewerage pump stations overnight and will continue to closely monitor them.

Sewerage treatment plants and the network for Port Pirie and Port Augusta require additional generator support to maintain service. I am advised that also will be made available. The Barossa and Mid North's continuing power outages are making communication to the area difficult. I am awaiting further updates on this area of concern. I am advised that the Riverland, Mount Gambier, Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula all have water and sewerage services fully operational.

The chamber should also note that our coast will be affected by this weather event. DEWNR has received several warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology since Tuesday afternoon. The latest warning at 10.21 this morning has upgraded the storm surge prediction. We are expecting a significant sea level this afternoon at Port Adelaide of about 3.4 to 3.8 metres chart datum. This high water level may cause more beach and dune erosion along the Adelaide coast.

There has been significant sand carting and pumping over the past years, as part of the Adelaide Living Beaches strategy, and this has reinstated dune buffers in vulnerable areas, which will help protect the coast somewhat from this storm. The high winds have filled the Glenelg and West Beach boat harbours with seagrass. DEWNR is prepared to start cleaning the harbour once the weather event has passed. I would like to remind all members of the public that at this time they should continue to check SA Water's website, Twitter, Facebook and customer service centre for updates and general information regarding interruptions to water and sewerage services across the state.

The SA Water customer service centre is fully operational and will be taking customer inquiries and calls. I am also advised, in terms of the operation of Mount Bold, that all gates are open to 300 millimetres, which is the maximum release of about 6.8 megalitres a day, and at 1pm today the reservoir is sitting at 90 per cent capacity.