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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-09 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Bookmark Creek

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:21): I move:

That the 15th report of the committee, entitled Bookmark Creek Project, be noted.

The public works proposal from the Department for Environment and Water proposes to upgrade infrastructure along Bookmark Creek near the township of Renmark in the Riverland. Impeded water flow, increased salinisation and historic channel modification have seen the health of Bookmark Creek decline in recent years. This is due to the creek's use as a dam and saline disposal basin as well as continued vegetation clearance.

Because of its close proximity to Renmark, the creek has high social and recreational value to the community, with a well-established local action group supported by industry groups and key stakeholders. This project proposes works that have been a vision of the local community for several decades, with an enthusiastic group of council members, irrigators, landholders and community members ready to see improvements.

The three aims of this project are to improve the connectivity of Bookmark Creek to the River Murray, to increase water flow down the creek creating fast-flowing habitat for native fish and, lastly, to facilitate the movement of large fish within the creek and River Murray. Overall, this project has the potential to improve the hydrological regimes throughout the creek and its associated wetlands as well as enhance the connectivity of wetlands and flood plains.

In addition to these environmental benefits, this project is anticipated to deliver important economic benefits through agriculture, fisheries and tourism, all of which are dependent on a healthy river system. These improvements will encourage population and job growth in the area and support local businesses during the construction phase.

A key strength of this proposal is the engagement with First Nations, local action groups and industry groups to build upon the recognised social and recreational potential of Bookmark Creek in the Riverland. It seeks to bolster community ownership of the creek's values, which will continue as the restoration progresses and the community connect through enhanced recreation opportunities.

Work is planned across three sites. Site A is the proposed location for an new inlet regulator to be owned and operated by DEW. The new regulator will replace the existing embankment and culvert at the upstream entrance to Bookmark Creek. Site B is the location for in-stream habitat work to modify the existing channel, realign the surrounding track and increase channel variability. Site C is the proposed location for the Nelwart Street bridge. Once constructed, the bridge will be donated to the Renmark Irrigation Trust, with ongoing maintenance undertaken by the trust.

The bridge will replace the existing embankment and culvert structure and provide a trafficable road bridge at the Nelwart Street crossing. The bridge will maximise the Bookmark Creek waterway for passing flows, enabling unimpeded upstream and downstream passage for not only native fish but also canoes. This low-velocity channel for canoes and kayaks through the structure will be an important amenity and the first of its kind in Australia.

The estimated capital cost of these works is $6.9 million. Money will be provided through the Sustaining Riverland Environments (SRE) program, which is a $38 million program funded by the Australian government through the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. It will be delivered by the government of South Australia through the Department for Environment and Water.

Construction of the regulator and bridge is expected to take place over a six to eight month time frame, subject to suitable weather and river conditions. Work is scheduled to commence in April 2023, with completion in January 2024. Habitat work at site B will commence in April 2023, with completion in September 2023.

DEW has sought approval from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) to self-manage construction of the project with oversight provided by DIT. The delivery of the project is proposed to be implemented through a construct-only contract, to be undertaken by a private contractor appointed through a competitive tender process. The construct-only contract is currently being developed with a tender call anticipated later this year. Contract award is expected later this month. DEW confirms that all procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the state government's procurement management framework and comply with South Australian government guidelines.

Consultation occurred with a number of key stakeholders during the concept and design phases, including with the two landowners, Renmark Paringa Council and Renmark Irrigation Trust. DEW confirms that there has been extensive engagement with the Riverland community, which has expressed overwhelming support for this project. This engagement will continue as work progresses. Regular updates will keep all stakeholders informed about the aims, progress and benefits of this project.

The committee has examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Bookmark Creek proposal. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were the member for Chaffey, who gave an excellent presentation I thought; Dr Glenn Shimmin, Manager, Project Coordination and Development, Department for Environment and Water; Mr Richard Brown, Manager, Infrastructure Management, Department for Environment and Water; and Ms Eva Dec, Senior Project Manager, Sustaining Riverland Environments, Department for Environment and Water. I thank all the witnesses for their time before the committee.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:26): I rise to give full support to the Bookmark Creek project. It is a $6.1 million component of the $36.7 million Sustaining Riverland Environments. I did present to the committee and I thank the Chair and the committee for allowing me to express my support and also to give a little bit more understanding of what Bookmark Creek has meant not only to the people of Renmark but also the natural environs that surround Renmark.

As many might know, Renmark is an island and it is surrounded by different waterways. On one side of Renmark is the River Murray and on the other side of Renmark is Bookmark Creek. Believe it or not, I used to live on the banks of Bookmark Creek many years ago. That gave me an opportunity to ponder the opportunities that were so very much missed. It is an environmental circuit breaker to Renmark. It has been consumed by native vegetation, reeds and overgrown bushland for a long, long time. The landscape will change, particularly with this project.

I will add a little bit more to it. Things have changed significantly since I presented to the committee. We have seen the floods come and go. Bookmark Creek was a major factor in having that significant water body go around Renmark. We saw significant flows go around Renmark. Much of the water that came into South Australia wants to travel in a straight line and much of it wants to run straight over the top of Renmark.

What we have seen is the magnificent levee system that diverted water back around the River Murray and it also diverted much of the water through Bookmark Creek. What we see there now is a creek that has been scoured significantly. It is also now posing fantastic opportunities for tourism, particularly for kayakers and for the locals. Anyone who is a local anywhere close to the Bookmark Creek is catching a feed of yabbies at any given will.

It really is a great sight to see a creek that has really turned into part of the river system because it is an anabranch. It is now a very integral and important part of Renmark because, as I have said, it provides a pressure release valve on water coming down in a high-flow event. The council did an outstanding job of building or rebuilding some of the levee banks. Both sides of Bookmark Creek now have a levee bank that is protecting that town, as well as protecting the horticulture communities on the western side of Renmark.

As a bypass of Lock 5, Bookmark Creek will play a much more important role in sustaining a healthy working environment and also a healthy working river and the bypass known as Bookmark Creek will see a changed landscape. We will see environmental works that will enhance native fish, whether it is spawning or whether it is habitat. Snagging will also provide opportunity for native fish habitat. My belief is that we will not see a lot of native Murray cod in the creek, but we will see a lot of smaller versions of fish. We will see hardyhead and we will see the two spotted gudgeon and they are really important indicators within the environment.

I cannot express enough my support for this to give Renmark another feather in its cap when people come to visit and when people want to experience some of the anabranches around Renmark and the creek system. It will also enhance what is now going to be the Jane Eliza expansion. Jane Eliza version two will be a little upstream in Bookmark Creek and it will help enhance the ongoing and future healthy flows that will now proceed through the creek.

Bookmark Creek supports the passing under the railway bridge, as well as the Sturt Highway bridge. The fishways and opportunities, as I have said, will transform what was quite an ugly piece of creek network into what I am hoping will be a sustainable healthy natural environment.

Regarding tourism, people are out there using Bookmark Creek in all its splendour. It is still flowing, and it is a great site to behold. If the many people visiting the region do not want to go further up into the river and creek networks, they drop off into Bookmark Creek and catch their feed of yabbies and have a wonderful time. I cannot see any reason why that is going to change any time soon. This project has my full support, as it does for the Renmark community and as it does for the Renmark Paringa Council.

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:33): I would like to take the opportunity to thank the member for Chaffey for his contribution not only today but also before the committee. I think all members of the committee found his contribution most illuminating.

Motion carried.

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