Page 1101 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 28 March 2017
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While the work on remediation of structures is completed, all structures have been placed on a maintenance program which will ensure they are re-visited and tested at regular intervals to ensure that maintenance needs are identified and rectified as early as possible.
Madam Speaker, I can advise the progress report outlines that a further two recommendations have been actioned and completed. A site management agreement dated 20 January 2017 between the Conservator of Flora and Fauna and Icon Water is now in place and applies to all areas of land in the territory where Icon Water retains assets, including in the lower Cotter catchment.
The agreement outlines the approvals environment for maintenance works carried out by Icon Water and requires Icon Water to submit proposals for new works through the normal planning and environmental protection approvals process. The adoption of this agreement signs off on recommendation 2 of the Auditor-General’s report.
Recommendation 6 called on the Environment Protection Authority to clarify responsibility for matters of water policy. On review, it was determined that responsibilities related to catchment management policy, public engagement and promotion of water quality matters would be appropriately delegated to the executive director, environment division, within the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. This was executed via an instrument on 23 May 2016.
Recommendations 1, 3 and 4 each relate to the development or adoption of codes of practice. On review, the government has determined that one code of practice covering each of the three areas of concern expressed by the Auditor-General would be the most appropriate operational response.
Accordingly, work is well progressed in finalising a code of sustainable land management practices, with an advanced draft currently being reviewed by operational managers. The code will incorporate a particular schedule addressing potable water catchment management, as well as a maintenance practices schedule.
I note that the Auditor-General had stipulated that elements of this work should be aimed to be completed by October and December last year. I am satisfied that other high-priority recommendations have occupied the working group, but have asked that work on finalising the code of practice be completed by July this year.
I am pleased to report that a lower Cotter catchment draft plan of management was publicly released in January of this year. Following a public consultation period which closed on 10 March this year, the directorate is currently preparing a public consultation report for my review. I expect that I will be presented with a final document for public release by June this year.
The draft plan considers the wide range of issues the public land manager is required to engage with to ensure a water catchment area is adequately managed and thus addresses the Auditor-General’s report recommendation No 8. I understand that, according to early analysis, public feedback is very supportive of the plan, with
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