Page 3158 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 October 2006
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Public Place Names Act—
Public Place Names (Franklin) Determination 2006 (No. 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-215 (LR, 4 October 2006).
Public Place Names (Jerrabomberra & Majura Districts) Determination 2006 (No. 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-211 (LR, 14 September 2006).
Public Place Names (Oaks Estate) Determination 2006 (No. 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-210 (LR, 14 September 2006).
Race and Sports Bookmaking Act—Race and Sports Bookmaking (Sports Bookmaking Venues) Determination 2006 (No. 6)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-214 (LR, 3 October 2006).
Radiation Act—Radiation (Fees) Determination 2006 (No. 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-209 (LR, 14 September 2006).
Utilities Act and Utilities (Water Conservation) Regulations—Utilities (Water Restriction Scheme) Approval 2006 (No. 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2006-212 (LR, 21 September 2006).
Sustainable water supply
Discussion of matter of public importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received letters from Mrs Burke, Dr Foskey, Mr Gentleman, Ms MacDonald, Ms Porter, Mr Pratt, Mr Seselja, Mr Smyth and Mr Stefaniak proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Mr Gentleman be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The importance of securing a sustainable water supply for the future.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (4.05): Mr Speaker, the subject of water has been a pressing issue since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The new settlement at Sydney was reliant on the Tank Stream until it became too polluted and a new source had to be found. Fortunately, nowadays we do not have a problem with polluted water sources, but we do have a problem in ensuring a sustainable supply into the future.
The Stanhope government has been more innovative and more responsive in recognising the pressing need to secure our future water supply than any other jurisdiction. Today’s Herald Sun carries a tale of Victoria’s perilous position, with new figures from the state’s water authorities showing that the water shortfalls predicted early last year have grown significantly in recent months. It is now estimated that Victoria’s water supplies are drying up at more than double the rate predicted just 18 months ago, with the amount of water flowing from streams and rivers into reservoirs dropping by up to 60 per cent compared with the 100-year average.
The ACT has been planning and managing its water needs in an integrated and practical way. The ACT government implemented a water resource management strategy, “Think water, act water”, in April 2004. The strategy is both a short to medium term and an ongoing long-term approach to water supply and demand management in the ACT.
The strategy established six objectives and a series of actions and was budgeted for in the 2004-05 budget. The major objectives bear restating. They are: to provide a long-term, reliable water source for the ACT and region; to increase the efficiency of water usage;
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