Page 4073 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
that supplies non-potable water and emergency water. That tank, as you know, is well past prime condition and is in danger of failing, leaving the town and districts without vital emergency water, or even triggering a small flood if the tank were to burst. Minister, you have indicated that a master plan and an infrastructure plan are being developed, but residents are still unaware of the future of their water security. Minister, when do you expect the master plan to be completed for Tharwa and when will residents be contacted?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Lawder for her question. We have been working with Tharwa residents with regard to water security. I personally have visited Val Jeffery at Tharwa to have a look at the water structure on a couple of occasions. I have given some direction to EPD to have a look at what can be done with the system there at Tharwa. As you are aware, Madam Speaker, Tharwa takes some water supply from the Murrumbidgee River. There are two pick-ups in the Murrumbidgee River and two pumps, and a catchment tank at the top of the Tharwa area behind Mr Jeffery’s shop. I have visited and inspected—
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: Do you have a point of order? Can we stop the clock.
Mr Hanson: on a point of order, as fascinating as Mr Gentleman’s visits are, the question was very specifically about the timing for the master plan to be completed. Could he relay that information to the Assembly, rather than what he used to do as a candidate.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: On the point of order.
Mr Corbell: The preamble to the question related to water security matters and the need to address water security in the context of the master plan. I think Mr Gentleman, the minister, is appropriately replying in that context, as well as obviously still having three minutes to fully answer his question.
MADAM SPEAKER: I agree that he should be directly relevant to the question. Given the preamble, I think Mr Gentleman was being directly relevant to the state of the tank at Tharwa, which is a very important issue and is not a laughing matter. But I also remind Mr Gentleman to be mindful of the specific question that he was asked and attempt to answer it within the remaining three minutes and eight seconds.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I have mentioned, we are certainly looking at the water supply for Tharwa. I have given some instructions to EPD to act, even before the Tharwa master plan stage 1 is completed—to look at that situation and see whether we can help there. The Tharwa master plan stage 1 infrastructure study is underway, so we hope to see that released very shortly.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video