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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1952 ..

organisations in the ACT turning to groundwater as a substitute supply in light of restrictions that apply generally across the board.

I am not aware, Ms Dundas, of the circumstance in which I would have said that they had ceased. I think, in some of the groundwater catchment areas, licences have ceased being issued, on the basis of an assessment that is made from time to time by Environment ACT about the capacity of a particular groundwater reserve. In those circumstances, applications for water bore licences in those particular areas are not granted. So there are parts and parcels of the ACT in relation to which no bore licences are granted, but there are, as I understand it, still in some areas licences being granted.

I have asked for a complete overhaul of the regime, particularly the pricing regime, and the basis on which bores will be granted. I am looking for a very significant increase in licence fees; I am looking for a very significant increase in the charge for extracting groundwater.

I think there is a real equity issue in relation to groundwater, as much as there is certainly a very significant environmental and ecological issue in relation to how we tap and use or extract groundwater. I am concerned that bore licences, to the extent that they are being applied for by individuals, are more often than not by individuals with very large blocks, very large gardens and, in very many instances, very big back pockets. There is a genuine equity issue here. In terms of extraction by private citizens of groundwater, much of it is extracted by such people—and I don’t begrudge them this—but I am concerned about the issue of equity in relation to the capacity of some people in the community to access groundwater in circumstances where the rest of the community is being forced and is willing to comply with water restrictions.

I will need to go back to the answer I gave, Ms Dundas, because some licences are still being granted and, if I actually suggested that they’re not, then that is not true. There are parts of Canberra where licences are no longer being granted because the decision has been taken by Environment ACT that the capacity is essentially at that level. So I need to look at the answer. If I have said that no licences are being issued, then I would have to admit now that that’s not fully or technically correct.

MS DUNDAS: I thank the minister for his answer. Considering that the Commissioner for the Environment believes that ACT groundwater surveys have not adequately informed us of whether existing water use is sustainable and given your own concern in relation to water bores as stated today, will the government commit to an adequate groundwater survey separate to the overhaul of the fees regime so that we can actually calculate how much groundwater is being used and whether or not the recharge rates can be reliably calculated?

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Ms Dundas. This is an issue that I have been discussing with Environment ACT. As I indicated to you, I have taken a significant interest in the issue of groundwater, the sustainable use of groundwater and the equitable use of groundwater. You are quite right: we, as a community, have never fully investigated groundwater supplies or capacity or, as you say, issues around sustainability in relation to groundwater in the ACT.

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