Page 4651 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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number of dry years we have had in a row, at this stage it is highly unlikely Icon Water will need to recommend water restrictions this summer.
Madam Speaker, a major factor in our current water security was the enlargement of the Cotter dam in 2013. This expansion increased the storage capacity of the Cotter dam almost 20 times. The investment in this major piece of infrastructure demonstrates this government’s forward-looking focus. Projects such as the Cotter dam enlargement are not solutions that can be applied quickly during a drought. It requires decades of planning. By investing now, the ACT government is working to improve our overall water security.
I know that all of us in this chamber today have been watching with horror the current bushfires that have raged across Australia, devastating many parts of the country. Residents have been asked to brace for catastrophic and worsening conditions. As we speak, many homes and lives have been severely affected and the New South Wales fire chief has warned it could be months before the more than a million hectares of bushfires are under control.
Bushfires have an immediate effect on water scarcity in the affected areas and can often cause long-term damage. Change in land cover due to fire can adversely affect catchment water supplies. Bushfires have the potential to degrade water quality and alter the dynamics of the stream ecosystem in many complex ways. Amidst the fires and no signs of the drought crisis ending, the New South Wales government have recently announced that they are seriously considering level 2 restrictions on water if levels continue to lower. It is incredibly important to ensure that we can be reflexive to challenges such as bushfires, and water security is a big part of that.
Equally, as we look at the effect of these devastating natural disasters, we must also look what is causing this increased rate and severity—climate change. Since the early 20th century, Australia has been experiencing a long-term warming trend. This has not only brought an increase in the length of the fire season in Australia but also had a devastating impact on our water security.
Australia is getting hotter and drier, while rainfall has decreased. As a country we are currently facing our worst drought in living memory and climate change is exacerbating these conditions. It is paramount that our progressive government continues to address the issue of water security as the effects of climate change worsen.
The status of our current water security has been facilitated by the success of proactive ACT government policies such as those in the ACT water strategy 2014–44: striking the balance. That is why this motion calls on the ACT government to continue to implement and promote this comprehensive policy. However, to ensure that the ACT remains a leading jurisdiction on this issue, the motion also calls on the government to hold consultations with key water stakeholders and experts in the coming months.
As we are five years into the 30-year water strategy, these consultations will ensure that our progress on water security is on track. It will also facilitate a discussion
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