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- 2 May 2006
Snowy River Water Flow
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The Hon. EDDIE OBEID: I direct my question to the Minister for Finance. What is the latest information about the New South Wales Government's expenditure of $150 million on the Snowy River?
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I thank the honourable member for his question. New data on the health of the Snowy River shows that New South Wales Government restoration projects are delivering significant improvements. Honourable members would be aware that the historic 2002 agreement signed by the New South Wales, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments included an undertaking from New South Wales Government to contribute $150 million to water savings. The investment is delivering impressive returns for the river and the region. Over the past four years, an extra 100 billion litres of water has been released. In the coming year, a further 92 billion litres of water savings are expected to improve the health of the Snowy. These flows are protected by a series of legally binding agreements that are protected regardless of who owns the Snowy hydroelectricity infrastructure. The water is not for sale, nor is the river. The water will continue to be owned by the people of New South Wales and regulated by the New South Wales Government forever.
The massive increase in environmental flows is just one element of the river's recovery. Equally important is the work being done in conjunction with the increased flows, rehabilitation of the bed and the banks of the river, replanting of native trees and shrubs and the recovery of native fish species. It is these projects that ensure the Snowy River and the local environment in general get the maximum result from the increased flows in the river. Already, 25 kilometres of the river have been cleared of blackberry, and we have completed initial willow control for more than 170 kilometres of riverbanks, leaving just six kilometres remaining to be cleared. This is a great project, which in some of the more remote parts of the Kosciuszko National Park requires work crews to be dropped in by helicopter. It is painstaking, hard work, but we are getting it done. In all cases where it is required, damaging, introduced species of willow trees and blackberry bushes are replaced by gum trees and other native trees and shrubs. Around Dalgety, for example, we have planted 50,000 native riparian trees and shrubs.
The restoration of the Snowy River also involves improving fish habitat and encouraging the return of native fish species. The Department of Primary Industries has surveyed the Snowy tributaries, assessed habitat requirements and commenced breeding trials for River Blackfish. The Blackfish, or "Lightning Fish" as it is known by the local Aboriginal people, has disappeared from most of its former range in the river. We are also co-operating with Victoria in breeding the Australian Bass so that it, too, can be re-established in the Snowy. All these projects are being funded by New South Wales and carried out by the dedicated and highly knowledgeable workers at the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Natural Resources—I pay tribute to my colleague the Hon. Ian Macdonald and his department—and the Department of Primary Industries with co-ordination and support from the Premier's Department and the Department of Environment and Conservation. It is a great team working co-operatively to rehabilitate one of our greatest rivers. I am very pleased to say that earlier this year the Government committed an additional $30 million to enhance our environmental programs and to increase environmental flows after 2012. This is in addition to the $150 million committed in 2002.
The ACTING-PRESIDENT:Order! I call the Hon. Melinda Pavey to order for the first time.
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: Thank you, Madam Acting-President. We are undertaking one of Australia's greatest environmental restorations and we can look forward to greater success in the years ahead.
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