Page 3555 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 25 August 2009
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It is clear that this government is providing a range of programs that each and every one of us can use to make water savings. Just to recap, it is something that involves water use and water security; it is something that affects all of us, and we should be aware of it. This government has a range of rebate and incentive programs that are working together to reduce demand for potable water through the ToiletSmart program, the GardenSmart program, the rainwater tank rebate, the web tools and the commercial bathroom retrofit program, which are all making significant savings on our water use.
In conclusion, the ACT community is taking water conservation measures each and every day in their homes and small businesses. We as a government are supporting this with a series of effective and efficient water saving programs that are well embraced by the community. I look forward to further expansions of the programs in the coming years.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.56), in reply: I would like to thank members for their comments in relation to the ministerial statement on water security. There is no doubt that the ACT faces continuing challenges in maintaining water security as we see the impacts of climate change becoming more and more apparent on rainfalls in our area and also the prolonged dryness that is now associated with the lack of more regular and consistent rains.
We are seeing a continuing difficult situation for the territory. With a very low level of rainfall over the winter period, last night notwithstanding, the prospect of a dry summer and the very real potential of stage 4 water restrictions is a matter which the ACT government is having due regard to and preparation for should that need for such a change in water restrictions eventuate.
That said, the government’s program is focused on a range of important measures. It is focused, firstly, on supply augmentation. Augmenting the existing water supply to improve security of supply is being done through a range of measures such as those that my colleagues and other members have commented on. The expansion of the Cotter Dam, the Murrumbidgee to Googong transfer and the Tantangara water purchase are all key elements of that supply augmentation. But there are some other less noticed areas of supply augmentation, and these include the very important Canberra urban waterways project, which is delivering several gigalitres of water for non-potable use in our city over the next few years.
The government has provided funding for this program in the most recent budget for the creation of two additional offline water ponds on Sullivans Creek. These projects are being supported also with funding from the commonwealth government. These projects will deliver alternatives to potable water supply use for a range of sporting fields, recreation grounds, school ovals and other public places across the city. They provide a very important alternative to relying on potable water from the existing reticulated system, and they give water users such as EPIC, the Canberra racecourse and schools in the inner north of Canberra the opportunity to access a reliable source
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