Page 6205 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 2010
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(3) What research has the department undertaken to discover innovative water-saving solutions and technologies that have been developed in Australia and overseas.
(4) What work has the Government done to develop a solution to enable a sustainable domestic grey-water recycling solution.
(5) What work has the Government done to discover and enable the grey-water technologies and solutions that are available and can be offered by the private sector.
(6) What work is the Government doing to test the competitive neutrality of ACTEW Corporation in relation to water saving solutions offered by the private sector.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) (a) As the Member would be aware, the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water, celebrated its second year of formation in November of this year. Many of the water savings measures which were introduced under the Think water, act water strategy of 2004 by TAMS, continued to be implemented under the new Department.
The continuing and current DECCEW programs designed to save water and reduce consumption include:
• ToiletSmart Plus;
• IrrigationSmart (pilot);
• Rain water Tank Rebate (internal connection criterion was implemented under DECCEW);
• GardenSmart;
• Commercial Bathroom Retrofit;
• Outreach; and
• Plant selector tool and ACTSmart Sustainable Schools;
Additional initiatives that have contributed to saving potable water include:
• temporary restrictions;
• education and awareness programs;
• ACTPLA’s water sensitive urban design initiative;
• TAMS’ Sports and Recreation Grounds revised Irrigation Program; and
• participation in the Commonwealth’s Water Efficiency Labelling (WELS) program for all water-consuming devices purchased in the ACT.
Within Government, DECCEW is assisting agencies to develop Resource Management Plans (RMPs), one of the actions under the Government’s Climate Change Strategy Weathering the Change. RMPs will include actions to be taken by the agency to reduce water use. At this stage three RMPs have been developed, with a further four in draft form. DECCEW is actively supporting the remaining agencies to develop their RMPs by meeting with responsible officers within agencies and providing information about funding availability for resource efficiency measures under the Resource Management Fund.
(b) Estimates of annual savings in potable water for 2009/10 are provided below. Please note that estimates are based on the Think water, act water strategy targets and assumptions and are influenced by factors such as rainfall, the stage(s) of water restrictions over the period, as well as consumer behaviour:
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