Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-14 Daily Xml

Contents

Parliamentary Committees

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:00): I move:

That the 32nd report of the committee, annual report 2008-09, be noted.

This is the 32nd report of the Natural Resources Committee for what has been another very busy year for the committee. Over the course of the reporting period, the committee undertook a number of interesting inquiries. I am pleased to present to the parliament the annual report of the Natural Resources Committee for the period July 2008 to June 2009.

Very briefly, I will outline some of the activities undertaken by the committee during this reporting period. The Natural Resources Committee has undertaken its statutory responsibilities, as defined in the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, considering five NRM plans and levies for 2008-09, plus a further four for the preceding 2007-08 year for various NRM boards around the state.

The committee undertook an inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin, tabling the following two reports: Water Resource Management in the Murray-Darling Basin, Volume 1: The Fellowship of the River; and Water Resource Management in the Murray-Darling Basin—Critical Water Allocations in South Australia. Two further reports are anticipated to complete this inquiry.

Other reports tabled in the financial year included Upper South-East Dryland Salinity and Flood Management Act 2002 Report: To drain or not to drain, that is the question; and Deep Creek Revisited: A search for straight answers. In addition, the committee has undertaken a tour of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management region and was represented at the national conference of public works and environment committees in Sydney.

I thank all those who gave their time to assist the committee with this inquiry. I also commend the members of the committee, the Hon. John Rau MP (Presiding Member), the Hon. Graham Gunn MP, the Hon. Sandra Kanck (former member), the Hon. Stephanie Key MP, the Hon. Caroline Schaefer MLC, the Hon. Lea Stevens MP, and the Hon. David Winderlich MLC, for their contribution and support. All members have worked cooperatively throughout the year. Finally, I thank the staff of the committee for their very valuable and professional assistance.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. C.V. Schaefer.