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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 736 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

Along with that algal action plan, a brochure titled "What are Blue-Green Algae?" was issued. It identified simple but effective means by which members of the public can contribute to minimising the risk of blue-green algal blooms occurring in our urban lakes, such as simply ensuring that soil and lawn clippings do not enter the system. But, in fact, even if there were a bit of blue-green algae on our lake system, that is what they were created for - to stop that running into the Murrumbidgee-Murray-Darling system. If we get a bit of blue-green algae because some of these pollutants are finding their way into the system, you can assume that those lakes, pollutant traps and the like are doing what they were designed to do, and we catch it fairly quickly and correct it.

Another aspect of our environmental control is that of our water supply. The Cotter River catchment within the Namadgi National Park is managed to ensure that Canberra is able to draw high-quality water from the Bendora and Corin dams for domestic consumption. The Murrumbidgee River corridor acts as a buffer as well as protecting this major river as it passes through the ACT on its way down to the major system. Much of the Molonglo River corridor is managed and protected similarly to the protection afforded to the Murrumbidgee River corridor.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this year the Government has provided $125,000 for land care and $100,000 for community vegetation management projects. It may not be much, but the strategies pursued through this expenditure achieve reduced soil run-off, more stable stream banks and greater vegetation cover to act as a filter for surface water. It might not be enough for Ms Horodny, but it is as much as can be accounted for in our budget. This Government, unlike its predecessor, will tackle the serious problem of willows which are choking some of our rivers and streams, such as parts of Ginninderra Creek. The recently released ACT weeds strategy will focus weed control efforts on the areas and weeds of greatest concern in our environment.

Madam Deputy Speaker, Lake Ginninderra, Lake Tuggeranong and the Molonglo River above Lake Burley Griffin are managed under the Lakes Act by the Parks and Conservation Service. This Act provides for the sound management of these bodies of water, including the control of boating and other recreational uses, as well as any commercial uses. On the question of jet skis, I think that matter came up, as it should. It was dealt with by due democratic process. For anybody to be standing here today and bitching and complaining because the Minister dared to entertain it, I think, is an indictment of the people who make that criticism. They are not prepared to have an idea put up and debated. It was put up. It was debated. It was dealt with in a democratic process, which is the purpose of the Lakes Act, specifically.

Fishing is an important use by some people of our lakes and rivers in the ACT. This Government is preparing a fish stocking policy to promote recreational angling through fish monitoring and restocking programs. Protection and conservation of native fish is an important consideration. Occasional incidents such as we witnessed recently of some ducks dying in Kambah are regrettable, but at the same time they do force people to recognise the damage that they do through some of their thoughtless actions and some of the procedures that they adopt. It cannot be said that the Government does not respond when something like that occurs. I believe that they do.

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