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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL WATER INITIATIVE

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Water. How has South Australia performed in implementing national water reform?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (14:37): I thank the member for Reynell for her very important question and acknowledge her active interest in, amongst other things, recycling water projects in her electorate. I am pleased to inform members, Madam Speaker, although I expect there will be a few who might not be pleased to learn this, that South Australia has performed strongly in the latest assessment of the implementation of the National Water Initiative by the states and territories.

The National Water Initiative is a joint commitment signed in 2004 by all state and territory governments and the commonwealth which aims to improve the management of the nation's freshwater resources. Today, the National Water Commission released its third biennial assessment of progress across all jurisdictions, and I am pleased to note that South Australia has been commended on a number of reforms and actions, many of which are fundamental components of Water for Good.

In its findings the National Water Commission commends South Australia for leading the country in the identification, estimation and regulation of water interception activities by industry and other private users and for the transitioning of these users towards sustainable levels of extraction. South Australia also received recognition for its progress in diversifying our urban water supplies. In particular, our innovative efforts to harvest stormwater as part of the state's new stormwater strategy have been recognised. I am proud to inform members that our stormwater strategy is the first integrated urban water management plan for any capital city in Australia.

The National Water Commission has also noted our efforts to provide South Australians with independent water pricing, which was part of our water industry legislation. The government has introduced the Water Industry Bill in order to promote greater efficiency, competition and innovation in South Australia's water industry. Independent regulation of urban and regional water and wastewater service industries will provide greater transparency in the regulation of water prices and service standards, which will benefit consumers, including businesses, of course.

The National Water Commission also highlighted the importance of continuing the implementation of Water for Good. The Water for Good plan was launched in 2009 as a guiding document to ensure South Australia's water future to 2050. The government thanks South Australians for supporting the positive progress that has been achieved to date in moving to diversify our water options. Regular tracking indicates that approximately 90 per cent of the actions in Water for Good are already completed or are underway and that this underlines the government's commitment to delivering water security for our state.

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