Page 4659 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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Our territory remains one of the most water secure communities in Australia, with its combined water storage currently at 51.52 per cent capacity. Madam Deputy Speaker, this may sound worrying, but I can assure you and our community that our water supply is secure.
As Mr Gupta’s motion acknowledges, because of this government Canberra has a greater volume of water storage now than it did during the millennium drought. This is because of the enlargement of the ACT’s overall water storage capacity by 72 gigalitres, providing a total capacity of 277.8 gigalitres. This additional water storage and a water conscious community continue to contribute to a significant improvement in the ACT’s water security position since the last decade.
Our water supply is also secure because of the lessons learnt from the previous millennium drought and the community’s sustained, positive changes in water usage behaviour. I want to acknowledge and thank Canberrans for their sustainability and broader conservation efforts.
While we have learnt lessons and have good water security, it is important that we remain vigilant. Icon Water, as the ACT’s supplier of water and sewerage services, constantly reviews the ACT’s water storage levels, along with other factors, including predicted demand, climate outlook, regional water availability and catchment conditions. Although we do not know how long the current dry weather conditions will last, Icon Water has indicated that at this stage water restrictions are not considered necessary in 2019. If conditions remain dry, restrictions may be necessary in 2020 should water storage fall below 35 to 40 per cent capacity.
The government’s strategy for managing Canberra’s ongoing water security is the ACT water strategy 2014-44, titled Striking the balance. This strategy supports the current and future growth of the ACT, achieves desired environmental outcomes and is responsive to climate change implications. It has been designed to promote three primary outcomes: healthy catchments and water bodies; a sustainable water supply used efficiently; and a community that values and enjoys clean, healthy catchments.
The ACT has also implemented other policy measures to ensure that water savings are maintained on an ongoing basis. As a result of these measures, per capita water demand has reduced by about 40 per cent since 2003.
The ACT’s water sensitive urban design code under the Territory Plan requires all new housing development to incorporate water saving measures, such as water efficient appliances, dual-flush toilets and rainwater tanks. Additionally, a scheme of permanent water conservation measures, administered by Icon Water, was introduced in 2010 and remains in place to encourage efficient water use. These are common-sense rules that provide flexibility to use water when we need to, while making sure that water wastage, like hosing down driveways, is not permitted. They provide guidance on how water should be used for garden and lawn watering, pool filling and cleaning.
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