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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-02 Daily Xml
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Barossa Wine Industry

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the government is securing business and consumer confidence through investigating greater water security for the Barossa wine industry?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:56): I thank the member for Schubert for this important question. It was great to be in his electorate last week, just as harvest starts in that area as well, to see the confidence of the grape and wine industries up there as they head into what they believe is going to be a wonderful vintage.

This region is of paramount importance to this state, and we must understand the importance of the water supply, in particular, into this region. We see the challenges that some areas, particularly the Eden Valley area, are facing through the lack of water availability, and it is important we investigate this space. We very much see it as one of the key things on the list of six infrastructure projects, and one of them is looking at getting water into this Barossa-Eden Valley region, and it is important that we continue work on that.

We have been working on this project, very much supported by the member for Schubert, and working with the Barossa Grape and Wine Association as well as Barossa Infrastructure Ltd, to try to achieve an outcome for this region. This initiative is so important, as it not only creates jobs but it is also about making sure we grow the sector.

To capture and treat effluent water and turn that into effective water available for grapegrowers in this region is an important initiative that will give them security beyond the vagaries of the weather. This security will enable growers to not only get their existing plantings producing well but also give them the ability for future plantings. This will lead to significant expansion in that region, with an estimated potential growth of up to nearly $300 million being returned from this investment of a pipeline taking effluent into that region. That will also lead to a thousand new jobs in the region.

Not only is this important for the region itself but it is important for the state and important for us nationally as well. It is also important to understand that the state government have applied to the federal government to partner in this going forward. We have made an application to put some funding on the table to make sure we get a secure business case to be able to put this project together. Also, an application going forward has been made to the Morrison government's National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.

It is important that we get this work done to make sure that we are able to design the appropriate project going forward and to make sure that we are able to deliver for that community, making sure that there is the opportunity for the investment that is required and a return for our state. This is a key part of the growth initiatives of this sector, making sure that they are able to deliver for us so that we can deliver a $23 billion target by 2030 for the ag sector in this state.

It is important that we continue to work with this group, and I thank the member for Schubert for his advocacy in this space. This is a very important project for South Australia, very much recognising the fact that it is now on the infrastructure list. This project needs to be delivered.

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