Urban Water Management

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Will the minister update the chamber about the integrated urban water plan and how this plan will better coordinate all urban water resources?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:11): What a jolly good question that is. The millennium drought certainly has had a devastating effect on the South Australian environment, community and economy. Whilst I sincerely hope that we do not live through a similar drought any time soon, it certainly drove home the message loud and clear that the long-term access to and supply of fresh water is clearly one of the greatest challenges that we face as a state and as a society.

Since the drought, the state government has worked more closely than ever with industry to make real progress in water security. Thanks to significant investment we have made in recent years, Adelaide now has six primary sources of urban water: water from catchments and the Mount Lofty Ranges, of course, and water from the River Murray, groundwater, wastewater, stormwater and desal sea water. But, despite this significant progress, Adelaide, like most capital cities, still faces a range of challenges regarding urban water, particularly in light of the expected impact of climate change.

How we make the most productive use of our water resources will significantly affect Adelaide's productivity and liveability, and as Adelaide continues to grow, it is vital that we ensure that our city works in harmony with the urban water cycles. Addressing all these issues will require even closer collaboration between the three tiers of government, industry and our communities. It will require a more integrated approach to urban water management that takes into account the way the various urban water sources interact with one another.

In mid-2011, the state government released its stormwater strategy, and this was an important document developed with input from policy makers, researchers and experts in the field who set out their strategies to deliver the goals outlined in the Water for Good policy. The stormwater strategy importantly also included the commitment to develop a new and innovate integrated urban water plan for Greater Adelaide. This plan is important because, at the moment, each of our six water sources is managed in relative isolation by a range of parties with diverse objectives.

All the evidence suggests that a more coordinated and integrated approach is necessary—I would suggest it just makes common sense—not only to address the challenges we face in urban management, but also to identify how we can turn these challenges into positive outcomes for our communities. It is pleasing to note that this approach has also clearly been echoed by the United Nations Environmental Programme. In its status report on global efforts to improve water management published in 2012, the UNEP identified that an integrated approach was needed, instead of considering each demand in isolation. The report goes on to say that the success of such an approach:

…depends on a governance and institutional framework that facilitates dialogue and decisions on water resource management which is ecologically, economically and socially sustainable.

The state government recognises that we must actively engage with the community, industry and other stakeholders in setting a new direction for urban water in Adelaide. I am therefore very pleased to announce that the government will begin a broad consultation process to develop the urban water plan.

We have drafted an issues paper that is available from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources' website to begin the discussion and we will be contacting key industry organisations and not-for-profit groups to invite them to provide feedback in defining the scope and priorities for a new urban water plan.

I invite honourable members who have an interest in these water issues to actually download it and make submissions and provide their advice and expertise. Based on the feedback received, a draft plan will be developed for further consultation in mid-2015, with the aim of finalising the plan and starting implementation by the end of that year. Once complete, our urban water plan will place us at the forefront of urban water management both nationally and internationally.

I very much look forward to hearing people's views regarding our future direction and long-term management for urban water, because I believe quite firmly that we are in a unique position to ensure that our urban water systems can deliver sustainable and ongoing social, economic and environmental benefits to the City of Adelaide now and into the future if we all work together.