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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-28 Daily Xml
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WHYALLA

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about Whyalla.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Whyalla is the largest city in the Upper Spencer Gulf region, with a capacity to handle more growth over time. It is important that plans be put in place now so that future growth is sustainable. Will the minister update the house about recent investment projects in the Whyalla area?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Indeed, it has been a great pleasure to be able to visit regional centres and see first-hand the benefits which can be gained from investment in regional areas. Last week I had the opportunity to visit Whyalla, one of our notable regional cities, which, with the help of the state government, will be making significant improvements to the sustainability of the city.

I had the pleasure of meeting with the mayor, Jim Pollock, and the CE, Mr Ian Burfitt, to discuss their work on a project that is very important to the area. I speak of course about the Waterproofing Whyalla project which aims to extend the city's existing wastewater re-use scheme within Whyalla to capture, store and re-use 380 megalitres of water a year.

Members will be aware that Whyalla has a dry climate, even in wet years as I understand, with an average monthly rainfall of under 30 millilitres. Obviously, it needs to be able to make the best use of any water that it has available. With this in mind, the city has proposed over $4.5 million for a project which is due to commence soon to help secure the future watering of a number of its major ovals and streets.

The proposed work will extend its existing wastewater re-use scheme within Whyalla to capture, store and re-use 380 megalitres per year. The project extends the existing wastewater re-use scheme, which is a joint venture between SA Water and the council to irrigate two additional ovals with 40 megalitres a year, providing a total water savings of 420 megalitres per annum. The new project builds on the existing agreement between SA Water and the Whyalla City Council which allows Whyalla to take wastewater and re-use it.

I was pleased to be able to announce during my recent visit to Whyalla that I had approved a grant from the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund of just over $1 million to go towards this water infrastructure project. The grant will specifically go towards the installation of water pipelines to deliver recycled effluent to open space areas. The project proposes a number of benefits to the region including assisting in reducing the demand on the River Murray as a source of potable water of around 420 megalitres a year; maintaining green spaces for community use through fit-for-purpose irrigation source from wastewater; reducing overall energy consumption as a result of reducing the need to pump potable water over 400 kilometres; and increasing the existing education and awareness campaigns for water conservation and the use of water re-use schemes.

The project is possible due to the joint commitments of local, state and federal governments. The Whyalla City Council is contributing just over $1.2 million and the federal government is assisting with a contribution of over $2.2 million to the project under its National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program.

I am advised that this major project is due to be completed by mid-2012 and I take this opportunity to congratulate the Whyalla City Council for its strategic thinking and careful planning of this work. I am confident that the completed project, using wastewater, will help to green the city and obviously make it more attractive for visitors and more liveable for residents. It is a great project and a very good example of the three levels of government working very well together.

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