Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): Supplementary: with respect to the 12 gigalitres, is there a set amount of this initial 12 being quarantined for local and existing growers? Is the minister aware of any discussions that he or SA Water may have had to that effect?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:30): I know there has been ongoing consultation with the community in this area. I am not aware that any particular amount of water has been put aside for any particular reserve grower or group of growers. I am advised that, in fact, there have been indications of strong support from existing operations. My understanding, the last time I spoke to the people who are putting this package together through SA Water and PIRSA, is that the existing users wanted to share in this, and that has been accommodated for in the initial 12 gigalitres. Should the expansion we anticipate happen sooner, we can crank this up as soon as the funding is available through the federal government.