Page 3919 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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catchment planning, targeted scientific investigation and ongoing community education. This investment will help to further reduce pollutants entering our lakes and waterways.
A review of the legislative framework for environmental protection was funded in the 2022‐23 budget and has been initiated by the ACT’s Environment Protection Authority. This review will ensure that the authority can continue to meet its regulatory remit within a rapidly growing city, enable climate adaptation and promote environmental improvement.
The package of initiatives presented in the government’s response will directly and meaningfully contribute to the improvements identified by the commissioner in her investigation. The government has provided a strong foundation to address emerging challenges and deliver enhancements to water governance, regulation, planning and program delivery. The government has agreed, or agreed in principle, to all but one recommendation provided by the commissioner. Our response reflects the shared value that we hold for our lakes and waterways and is founded on the strength of the recent commitments noted earlier.
The commissioner’s recommendation to assume responsibility for the monitoring and management of the water quality within Lake Burley Griffin is not agreed. The recommendation has good intent. The government’s response will support water quality outcomes within Lake Burley Griffin through improvements delivered by the Office for Water and the Healthy Waterways program and ongoing collaboration with the National Capital Authority.
I thank the commissioner for her comprehensive investigation into the state of Canberra’s urban lakes and waterways and for her recommendations that guide ongoing improvement towards a shared outcome. I commend the government response to the State of the Lakes and Waterways in the ACT investigation report to the Assembly. I present the following papers:
Investigation into the state of lakes and waterways in the ACT—Ministerial statement, 29 November 2022.
Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act, pursuant to section 22—Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment—State of the Lakes and Waterways in the ACT—
Government response.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the ministerial statement.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Scrutiny report 24
MR CAIN (Ginninderra) (10.57): I present the following report:
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