Page 2060 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 4 June 2019
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contamination entering our rivers and streams. In 2014 the commonwealth and territory governments committed $85 million towards improving the water quality of our waterways, ponds and lakes in the ACT. Five years later, why are we still regularly unable to use our lakes because of the threat to human health caused by contaminated water?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Lawder for her question. The healthy waterways project is, as described, a $93.5 million initiative from the Australian government and us to ensure that we can provide long-term water quality in the ACT, and indeed in the Murrumbidgee River system, by reducing the level of sediment and nutrients entering into the lakes and waterways.
The project is now coming towards its end. It is almost complete. It will then be the work of the environment that we have planted to remove the nutrients in our waterways to ensure that the lakes progress in a manner safe for human activity and, of course, for the nature in the area.
The waterways project remains on track for delivery. We know, from the work we have done with University of Canberra and other scientific groups, that if we are able to remove those nutrients before they enter the waterways, there is less opportunity for blue-green algae to keep growing. That is the program in hand that we are delivering for the ACT.
We are also delivering a very strong communications program to the community to not wash nutrients down the drain—so only rain down the drain—to ensure that we can deal with the build-up of those nutrients that cause blue-green algae in the lakes and waterways.
MS LAWDER: Minister, when will all of those waterways projects—every single one of them—be completed?
MR GENTLEMAN: Under this civil construction 17 assets will be completed at the end of this month, with the remaining three to be completed at the end of this month, June, or very early July, weather permitting. Wetland plants have been planted for the purpose across the sites; landscaping of dryland plants, paths and benches have been added to enhance the amenity of the assets; a two-year establishment period for the aquatic and water quality plantings covering the period July 2019 to June 2021 has been negotiated with the commonwealth and is to be undertaken within the existing budget.
MR PARTON: How can the ACT better fulfil its environmental responsibility to our fellow Australians and the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin downstream of Canberra?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Parton for the question. We have led the way, and it has been recognised at our ministerial council meetings with the Murray-Darling Basin groups, that Canberra has lifted well above its weight in dealing with our environment. We will continue to work with the other jurisdictions in ensuring that we can provide the healthy waterways project that ensures a good water supply to the
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