Environment, Water and Natural Resources Department Contractors

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15 November 2016).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change): The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation has received the following advice:

Contractors are generally used to assist with short-term workload pressures, to backfill long term leave vacancies (such as maternity leave or long service leave), or as project resources. In 2015-16, contractors were used as project resources for a range of initiatives such as:

Adelaide Living Beaches, helping replenish and maintain Adelaide's metropolitan beaches;

Coastal protection projects;

The Nature Based Tourism Strategy which is estimated to inject $350 million per annum into the state's economy and create 1,000 new jobs by 2020;

National Partnership Agreement that is helping deliver environmental water, improve river operations and infrastructure management; and

South Australian Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure Program (SARFIIP) helping improve vegetation, aquatic and marine habitats while also boost the Riverland Region's economy through increased employment opportunities, improved productivity benefits for Pike irrigators and new tourism opportunities.

No project-based positions have been converted to a permanent role.