Page 3360 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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I do recall one newspaper article a little time ago that there was direct effluent flow into the Murrumbidgee. It is simply not the case. There are a number of storage dams. Any effluent that is quite undesirable is not allowed to leach out; it is tanked away. The systems are very sound. There is a holding dam and there is a further dam beyond that to prevent any overflow in the case of heavy rain or breakage of walls. I have noticed one fishing commentator's articles from time to time, but I believe that he is expressing a jaundiced view. Nothing that he has said in that respect can be sustained.
Comment has been made about kangaroos. It is a sensitive issue, and it is clearly the case that we really do have more kangaroos in the area than we need. The Government has long been developing a policy; it has been a long process. First of all, we put out a discussion paper to community groups, including of course those most interested in the environment and in conservation. That paper was then refined and sent to two of our advisory committees - the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the Environment and Conservation Consultative Committee. They have carefully reviewed the policy. Each of those bodies looked at it, and they have sent us back those policies, I believe with endorsement and with comment. As a result the Government will be in a position to examine this issue carefully and decide what best might be done about this vexed question.
Mr Moore also raised the question of insulation in ceilings. Let me point out that from 1 July next year we are moving to a very tough energy standard, a five-star rating. I would think in very many circumstances houses are going to need insulation in the roof in order to get their four-star level. There are, of course, significant things they can do in respect of solar efficiency. We are planning our suburbs now to make it easier to align your house to the sun. With that new five-star rating, houses can use the sun, but not every subdivision can have a house so aligned. There will probably be circumstances where it will be necessary, in order to attain the four stars that are required, for insulation to be in the roof. I think it will become commonplace. We acted not so long ago to require it in walls as a matter of compulsion, and we just did not want to move, in consideration of costs, too rapidly to make it compulsory in the roof. The obvious reason is that it is not difficult, subsequently, for a home owner to come back and put insulation in the roof, whereas it is difficult and expensive if that is to happen with the walls.
I want to elaborate a little on what I said yesterday in respect of the Commissioner for the Environment report. There are five sections of it relating to various components: Atmosphere, water, land, urban environment, and plants and animals. Each section has been prepared, might I say with some emphasis, as a public process - by public consultation, by invitation broadly to the community to participate. In particular, we drew upon some very considerable scientific environmental advice.
If you look through this document, you will see who the people were who were responsible for writing each of those chapters. You will see that they reflect some of the best scientists and the best brains in this town. They have done a very thorough job. Mr Stefaniak read out a letter from one group. I do not know what the extent of their participation was, but any comment that that group made must be taken in the context of the high quality of people who have contributed to this report. Dr Baker, who got
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