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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-13 Daily Xml
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WATER CONSERVATION

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:12): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. How is the government engaging the community about the importance of water and water conservation in South Australia?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:12): I thank the member for Taylor for her question. As a government, we recognise that improved education and community involvement is an important part of ensuring that our community understands how precious water is in South Australia. Water is vital for our health, our lifestyle, environment and economy, and much of our water comes from the River Murray, so it is imperative that we protect this vital water resource.

It is the government's view that today's young people are a key in ensuring the wise use of our water into the future. Most of the young people I encounter are influences in their schoolyards, in their social settings and in their homes. They are passionate, positive and willing to get involved, and what they learn now will play a huge part in their future actions.

That is why the WaterWise Communities initiative connects with young people through a partnership between the Department for Water, SA Water and the Local Government Association. This important initiative provides advice and tools for South Australians to learn more about water and what can be done to help conserve it.

The WaterWise Communities initiative has been expanded to include schools, and I am pleased to report that, since the expansion, schools from metropolitan and regional areas have enthusiastically embraced the program. Each registered school receives a WaterWise Kit that includes flow cups to measure water efficiency in school grounds. The kit assists students in developing strategies to improve water use efficiency and provides checklists to help teachers incorporate water-saving initiatives into their education programs.

Households, businesses, community groups and councils can also join WaterWise Communities and receive the kit that contains a range of products that provide easily accessible water-saving tips. To date, those involved in the WaterWise Communities program include 47 councils, more than 3,500 householders, 42 businesses, 82 community groups and 96 schools, preschools and education groups.

South Australia's population is characterised by a diversity of languages, systems of beliefs, cultures and family structures. While products are now available in 17 languages, Multicultural SA and the Migrant Resource Centre have been engaged to determine specific communities who would benefit from translated products. This is a terrific community initiative and I encourage all members to learn more about the WaterWise Communities program, perhaps in the first instance by visiting the Water for Good website.

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