Page 3349 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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with planning for the next 50 years. Discussion on future water supply needs in the ACT always includes the question of cost. There are very strong and convincing arguments of an environmental nature which must be taken into account when we talk about water use and supply. We may have a relatively good water supply here in the ACT now; but this is the driest continent in the world, and we must take an environmentally responsible attitude to water usage. I believe that this Government has demonstrated foresight and has long-term planning measures which ensure appropriate supply and use.
Linked to our strategy on water supply and use is ACTEW's development and study of water reuse schemes. Notably, a pilot plant is being constructed which will supply high-quality treated effluent to irrigate the Southwell Park playing fields. Also, the new Conder-Banks oval in Tuggeranong will be irrigated by secondary water from the Point Hut pond system. I am not sure that all members are aware that 80 per cent of Canberra's stormwater is intercepted by an integrated system of traps, wetlands, ponds and lakes, to minimise the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering the Murrumbidgee River. City Parks has also achieved outstanding success in reducing its water use for irrigation by about 30 per cent over the last two years - a record, I am sure, that City Parks is proud of. I would also like to draw members' attention to the environment improvement plan recently launched by the Minister for Urban Services and the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. This improvement plan will minimise the impact of Canberra's sewage treatment discharges in surrounding waters and is the first of its kind in Australia.
Madam Speaker, in all this discussion about the environment, one thing is very clear. We must always remain flexible and have the ability to meet new demands and ever-changing developments which will always require environmental vigilance. We only have to consider our current situation here. We are experiencing a very severe drought, with one of the driest winters on record. We are facing a severe, high risk bushfire season during the coming months; and a problem which, I am sure, is of concern to many in our community is the incredibly high number of kangaroos living in the ACT. That number is increasing because of the drought conditions. Our rural lessees, in attempting to deal with the drought, are having to feed their stock while at the same time playing host to very high numbers of kangaroos on their properties. I have had members of the community bring to my attention their horror at seeing some people - only a small number, I might add - release their dogs specifically to watch the sport of their so-called pets chasing and mauling kangaroos. This is happening well within our urban areas. Of course, Madam Speaker, I am sure that we are all aware of the danger to traffic caused by straying kangaroos.
I am aware of the differing views held on how best to deal with this problem. The Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment, of which I am a member, dealt briefly with this issue in the report Feral Animals and Invasive Plants in the ACT. I understand the views and the emotions on this issue. The recommendation of the report, Madam Speaker, was:
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