Regional Fresh Water Supply

220 The Hon. S.L. GAME ().8 February 2023). Can the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water advise—

1. How is the government securing fresh water in the South Australian regional areas of:

(a) Lower Eyre Peninsula

(b) Eastern Eyre Peninsula

(c) Gawler Ranges and Central Eyre

(d) West Coast

(e) Far West Coast and Nullarbor

2. Can the minister guarantee that these measures:

(a) Will not further strain the underground aquifers in the region?

(b) Will not cost residents, businesses and producers more?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

The government has in place a water security statement which outlines the water security status of regional areas in the state.

The Department for Environment and Water is undertaking a stocktake of self-supplied remote communities to assess water security risks. The department is also working with the National Indigenous Australians Agency to commence work with the Scotdesco community on the Australian government's election commitment to find a permanent water supply solution for Scotdesco west of Penong.

To ensure Eyre Peninsula's water security into the future, SA Water is progressing its plans for supplementing the Uley South groundwater supply with a seawater desalination plant.

SA Water's plant will provide a new reliable, climate-independent source of drinking water to supplement existing groundwater sources and water from the River Murray to supply of safe, clean drinking water for around 35,000 customers on Eyre Peninsula.

SA Water's experience in operating seawater desalination plants—and the experience of other utilities around Australia and the rest of the world—confirms they can be designed and operated to ensure they maintain the health of the environment, including the local marine environment.

This government is committed to ensuring the region's sustainable water supply and is working with SA Water to confirm the site selection of the desalination plant.

In the meantime, drinking water supplies for Eyre Peninsula community remain secure, with current modelling showing groundwater resources and the River Murray will continue to meet demand until the currently planned desalination plant is built.

Once the desalination plant is built, water draw from the Uley South groundwater supply will decrease and be managed in accordance with revised long-term sustainable levels.

SA Water's Eyre Peninsula customers will continue to pay statewide pricing, the same as all SA Water customers.