- Home
- Hansard & Papers
- Legislative Assembly
- 24 February 2005
Yass Shire Water Supply
Printing Tips |
Print selected text
| Full Day Hansard Transcript
« Prior Item |
Item 7 of 41
| Next Item »
Page: 14220
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [11.54 a.m.]: I move the following motion, as amended by leave:
That this House calls on the Government to provide urgent assistance to Yass Valley Council to enable a viable long-term solution to the town's water supply, serving the towns of Yass, Binalong and Bowning, in view of the continuing and urgent need for a secure water supply.
On 8 May I gave notice of the motion in its original form. I have amended the motion to update it so that it remains contemporary. Water supply in Yass and the surrounding villages of Binalong and Bowning remains precarious. At full storage the Canberra water supply has the capacity to supply the nation's capital with normal water usage for 8 years. But the township of Yass is in a much more precarious and tenuous position. Under extreme drought conditions and without the implementation of water restrictions the capacity of the Yass Dam is sufficient to supply average summer demand for only three to four months. The Yass Dam across the Yass River—a concrete arch about 12 metres high with a crest length of about 98 metres and an effective storage capacity of approximately 850 megalitres—is located just upstream from the township of Yass. The Yass water supply depends totally on the flow of the Yass River.
The catchment extends from the top of the escarpment along Lake George and includes the villages of Sutton, Gundaroo and parts of Murrumbateman. Overall, the catchment for the Yass Dam covers approximately 159,000 hectares. When the Yass Dam was built in 1927 to serve a population of about 2,000 it had a capacity of 1,100 megalitres. Over the past 10 years demands on the Yass Dam catchment area have grown significantly. The population of the Yass Valley area is now more than 13,000, about half of whom depend on the Yass town water supply. Sutton, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman and the area of Yass closest to the Australian Capital Territory have become intensively developed as small rural lifestyle blocks have proliferated. The size of each of those blocks is usually between five and 20 hectares. Most of them contain at least one residence and at least one dam. Over the past 10 years more than 8,000 dams have been constructed upstream of the Yass Dam catchment. All of those residences and dams impact on the water flow in the upper Yass River.
Simply put, less water flow means less flushing of salt and decreased water quality. Less flushing of the river means increased siltation in the upper river and an increased danger of heavy siltation of the Yass Dam during flash flooding or other heavy rains. This is not theoretical but the real situation in Yass at this very moment. From its original capacity of 1,100 megalitres the Yass Dam now has a usable capacity of only 850 megalitres. In the past five years the Yass River below the Yass Dam has ceased to flow altogether during the summer months. John Betts, who lives just south of the Yass River, has been an outspoken advocate of the need to increase water in the Yass River. The Yass town water supply has lost almost one-quarter of its effective storage capacity because of siltation. Without effective action to ensure a long-term adequate water supply for Yass, the situation will only deteriorate. Putting aside the water quantity, serious concerns have been raised about the quality of the Yass town water supply.
The Yass council's customer survey, which was carried out in 2000, identified the quality of town water as a one of the major sources of complaints made by residents. The quality of the Yass water supply is also directly linked to the health of the Yass Dam catchment area. When I gave notice of this motion two years ago, Yass, Bowning and Binalong were on stage four water restrictions. Those desperate measures were designed to hoard as much water as possible in the face of severe immediate shortages. At that time the Yass town water supply's measure of calcium carbonate was approximately 450 milligrams per litre. A measurement of 200 milligrams per litre is considered to be marginal for potable water quality. There are patients in Yass who use home dialysis units to stay alive, but they are unable to rely on Yass water to flush their blood as the water supply sometimes contains higher than the acceptable quantities of aluminium, which the dialysis units concentrate in their bodies.
The catchment action plan for the Yass River produced by the Yass area network of Landcare groups in January 2003 makes for interesting, even if somewhat alarming, reading. It states that the Yass Valley subcatchment is the third-highest contributor to salinity levels in the Murrumbidgee River catchment. Approximately 12 years ago, 1,451 hectares of land were identified as severely salt affected. What is more worrying is that the report states that the Yass River has recorded a salinity level rise of 7 per cent a year, which is double the State's average.
The problem is very clear: without prompt and effective action by the Government, the Yass water supply will increasingly lurch from one crisis to another. Each crisis will be worse and more sustained until the supply fails completely. A solution to the long-term security of the Yass water supply needs to be found, and it needs to be found quickly. I have spoken about this need in this House on several occasions over recent years, but all that has happened is that more time has passed with little real action being taken to find a long-term solution by this Government.
I acknowledge, and am grateful for, the 50 per cent subsidies by the State Government to the council which enabled the sinking of test bores during the height of the drought, but that was only a response to an emergency situation. Several proposals have been studied and costed, ranging from raising the height of the Yass Dam wall by 12 metres, to drawing water from the Murrumbidgee River at Lake Burrinjuck, to accessing existing water supplies at Galong, Jugiong or the Australian Capital Territory. At $22 million plus, the most expensive option, and the one considered to be the least viable by the Yass Valley Council, is raising the dam wall. At $9.1 million, the cheapest and most viable option appears to be a pipeline from the Good Hope area to Yass. However, concerns have been expressed to me by Yass residents that this arm of Lake Burrinjuck is fed by the Murrumbidgee River, into which flows the Molonglo River, and into the Molonglo River flows much of Canberra's sewage.
Although the Australian Capital Territory electricity and water authority states in its promotional brochures that the lower Molonglo sewage treatment plant produces effluent equal to the world's best practice standards, unplanned crises are not unknown that could—as they have in the past—have a serious impact on the quality of downstream water. Lake Burrinjuck was hit by blue-green algal blooms in 2000 and a large unexplained fish kill near Good Hope in February 2001 could have been linked to discharges from the Molonglo River following heavy rainfalls.
During the height of the drought last summer, the only water that was flowing down the Murrumbidgee River into Lake Burrinjuck was water that was flowing out of the lower Molonglo sewage treatment plant. It might be world's best practice effluent, but the residents of Yass do not really want to drink it, thank you very much! The augmentation of Yass's water supply by linking it to water storages in the Australian Capital Territory is an option that cannot be discounted and should be vigorously pursued.
A pipeline to Yass from Canberra has been costed at $14.8 million and it is a considerably cheaper option than all but the Good Hope option. The Yass Valley Council has written to the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory governments seeking assurances that it will be included in discussions on a regional strategy to supply water to the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding regions. The reply received from the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory stated that "no further supply of an ACT-controlled water will be approved until 'conditions' of supplying water are agreed by the NSW, ACT and Commonwealth governments".
That is hardly an encouraging response, but it is one that is borne out by Mr Stanhope's comments at the launch of the Think Water, Act Water Strategy for sustainable water resource management in the Australian Capital Territory on 28 April last year. In that speech he made it abundantly clear that "ensuring that the ACT had an adequate, secure water supply is a major objective of the Strategy". I invite other honourable members to contribute to this debate and I look forward to making additional comments in reply.
Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro) [12.04 p.m.]: I move:
That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after "That" with a view to inserting instead the following words:
"this House:
(1) commends the Government for providing Yass Valley Council with funding of $315,750 for emergency drought relief works to assist with short-term relief from the impact of serious drought; and
(2) notes the need for long-term solutions to provide a reliable water supply for Yass, Binalong and Bowning, and urges the Government to continue its co-operative work with Yass Valley Council to ensure a long-term solution is put in place as soon as possible."
I certainly welcome this opportunity provided by the honourable member for Burrinjuck moving the motion relating to the water supply in the Burrinjuck electorate. I will not repeat much of the information that has already been provided by the honourable member for Burrinjuck concerning the history of the Yass water supply; suffice it to say that on several occasions the river stopped flowing altogether. Over the past few years the residents of Yass have suffered some very severe water restrictions. The whole region has been aware of those restrictions and has been sympathetic. As the amendment states, the Government has provided emergency relief on a couple of occasions to facilitate ground water drilling and to assist in work that had to be carried out to make the bores usable. The bores were really only made available for urgency backup use when water stops flowing and were not intended for day-to-day use.
The Government certainly recognises that a long-term solution is required for Yass. I know that the Minister is aware of that and I understand that the department has held discussions with the Yass Valley Council. I am aware that the Yass Valley Council at its meeting last night again discussed a paper presented by its officers which examines long-term water supply options. The paper reviewed studies which have been undertaken so far and outlined other options, some of which were mentioned by the honourable member for Burrinjuck. Those options include a pipeline being connected to the Murrumbidgee River at Good Hope, connecting a pipeline to the Murrumbidgee River downstream from the Burrinjuck Dam, a pipeline connection to Burrinjuck Dam, and a pipeline connection to ActewAGL. The council resolved in 2003 that the Good Hope option be adopted as its preferred option. I understand that is the basis upon which discussions are currently being held.
The information I have been given indicates that the council's preferred option will cost approximately $10 million. Obviously that is a significant amount, but it is important that Yass is provided with a long-term and secure water supply. I take on board comments by the honourable member for Burrinjuck about concerns expressed by local residents over drinking Canberra's sewage. Unfortunately, a lot of towns that are situated downriver from Canberra are drinking Canberra's sewage—albeit tertiary treated sewage, I hasten to add. This occurs on other rivers as well. For example, the people of Dalgety drink Jindabyne's treated sewage, but it is a problem that can be overcome.
The most important issue is to ensure that if the water supply is taken from the Murrumbidgee River, there is actually enough water flowing down the Murrumbidgee River to provide the water supply. That is why it is very important that the Carr Government is engaging in discussions with the Australian Capital Territory Government in relation to an integrated water supply strategy for the region. I will deal in more detail with that matter shortly.
The assistance that has been given to Yass so far has been provided under the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. The program has been the source of assistance that has been provided to many towns in the region I represent and it has been very worthwhile. Yass has received some funding from that scheme and will be discussing future assistance from that program with the department. I understand that the Yass Valley Council has also been told that the Minister will consider providing assistance for an integrated water cycle management study. Integrated water cycle management is something that the Government is encouraging in many country towns at the moment.
A number of issues arise from the fact that Yass is essentially sharing a water supply with a population of approximately 300,000 people in the region. The honourable member for Burrinjuck said that many rural residential subdivisions have been undertaken in the region and that they have increased demand on the Yass River's catchment. Primarily that was why I was so supportive of putting the Sutton area into the Yass Valley Shire Council's jurisdiction when the local government boundaries were adjusted recently. Development in the Sutton area has been having a very severe impact on the Yass River's catchment.
The source of the Yass River includes areas such as Wonboyn, Sutton and the areas that lie to the western side of the Lake George ridge. That area has certainly been the site of a great deal of rural residential subdivision. In my view it is essential for subdivisions to be undertaken in a responsible manner. Documents I have seen suggest that some of the ground water supplies in that area are perhaps being extracted at approximately 180 per cent of sustainable capacity. Obviously, in the long term that cannot be sustained. The inclusion of Sutton into the Yass Valley Council's jurisdiction was in part aimed directly at ensuring that the Yass Valley Council had some say over future development in the area, and particularly over intense development that has been proposed.
The Australian Capital Territory Government and the New South Wales Government are engaged in discussions on a co-operative approach to securing the future of the water supply for the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding regions. We are working on this integrated supply strategy to ensure that not only does the ACT have supply for its residents in the long term but the needs of New South Wales residents are also catered for. The Australian Capital Territory cannot pretend that it is an island. The Murrumbidgee River flows in one side and out the other. If it were not for 300,000 Australian Capital Territory residents taking water from the Murrumbidgee catchment, Yass would never have a problem. It is important that the Australian Capital Territory Government recognises that. We are working with the Australian Capital Territory Government to resolve these issues.
One of the options being examined by the ACT for its own future water needs is to supply water to the Australian Capital Territory from the Murrumbidgee River with releases from Tantangara Dam. As I look at it, that is essentially New South Wales water. If that option is chosen we must ensure that our own water supplies are guaranteed in the long term for the towns surrounding the Australian Capital Territory, such as Queanbeyan, which I represent, and Yass. The supply of water is becoming a controversial issue in these areas.
The Australian Capital Territory Government must recognise that it cannot look at these issues in isolation. I have been disappointed by some of the comments by the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister. Recently he suggested that the Australian Capital Territory would not provide water to New South Wales unless New South Wales assisted with paying for a new dam. Whether or not they need to build a new dam is up to them. Presumably, if we were to assist in paying for a new dam, we would expect a share of the revenue that is passed onto the Australian Capital Territory Government from ActewAGL. I do not think they have offered that to us. When we purchase our water in New South Wales we should do so on the same basis as any other customer. If we are going to get it from the ActewAGL supply system, we must pay a rate that will go toward the long-term capital works that are required to maintain the water supply.
The option for Yass that is currently favoured is to construct a pipeline to Good Hope on the Burrinjuck Dam. If the council decides to pursue that option, the New South Wales Government must resolve with the Australian Capital Territory Government how much water will flow out of the Australian Capital Territory and down the Murrumbidgee River to ensure that Yass is supplied sufficient water to meet its needs. I understand that that issue has been raised by Minister Sartor in discussions and will be considered in the process. An integrated water supply strategy for the region is critical to the future of our whole region. The surrounding regions are very reliant on the Australian Capital Territory.
Similar issues were raised in an earlier debate on a motion about cross-border anomalies. The adequate supply of water has a massive impact on surrounding areas. The Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas in New South Wales have great population and development pressures. Many people choose to live in New South Wales and commute to the Australian Capital Territory and that is where the pressure for rural residential subdivision has come from. There is obviously great demand for the expansion of Yass, Queanbeyan, Sutton and many other surrounding towns. Water supply is a very important issue, and we should get it right. The New South Wales Government is committed to working with the Australian Capital Territory Government and Yass Valley Council to make sure we do. [Time expired.]
Mr IAN ARMSTRONG (Lachlan) [12.14 p.m.]: It gives me much pleasure to support the motion moved by the honourable member for Burrinjuck, which raises once again the dilemma of the 13,500 people, the industries, the tourists, and the environment that is encompassed in the Yass Valley area because of the totally inadequate water supply. An estimated 856 megalitres of water has to supply the whole region of Yass. To paint a clearer picture, Yass is probably one of the best known towns throughout the world in the water industry. It is the birthplace of the Merriman family, who are acknowledged as having influenced over 70 per cent of the world's fine wool sheep. It is the resting place of Hamilton Hume, the great explorer. It has probably the most spectacular courthouse in Australia for the size of its population. According to popular belief, the courthouse at Yass was meant to go to Wagga Wagga and the courthouse at Wagga Wagga was meant to go to Yass. When you compare the two towns, you realise that the story is probably true, because Wagga Wagga got the village courthouse and Yass got the prominent one.
Binalong, another town serviced by the water supply, is the resting place of Frank Gardiner, the notorious bushranger. It is a wonderful tourist town with international restaurants and motels. Yass is growing rapidly as a major tourist destination in the south of the State. Previous speakers have emphasised the relationship of Yass with the Australian Capital Territory, being located adjacent to its border. I noted the comments by previous speakers about some differences of opinion between the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister and the New South Wales Government. There is an old saying in many parts of the world that whisky is for drinking and water is for fighting about. That is true in this case. There will always be a fight where water is concerned.
There is probably no area in New South Wales, I suspect in eastern Australia, where the underground aquifer system is better understood. In the past 50 years Yass has had two of Australia's premier boring drillers—Mr Ted Ostrorski was the last of them. Over the years every farm property in Yass has had bores either drilled or sunken on it. The district has an extensive knowledge about water. As there are no major aquifers in the region, Yass is dependent on the catchment of water in the Yass River. In the Lachlan valley, which I represent, 856 megalitres of water would supply a relatively small irrigation farm. If push comes to shove, the Yass water supply would not provide a medium-sized irrigation farm with sufficient water to grow crops and operate a viable business. They are doing remarkably well on 856 megalitres, but they cannot sustain themselves or grow.
Many years ago I worked in Yass, and I have a long association with the town. Yass has had continual problems with water supply for at least the past 50 years, and governments have not addressed those problems. It is as simple as that. Yass has been left to its own devices. The arguments have always lasted longer than the droughts. The rains have come before the arguments have been resolved and governments have been let off the hook. I fully support the honourable member for Burrinjuck. Yass has to have a viable supply of potable water for its existing population, its industry and the environment. The Government is very keen about the environment. Here is its chance to look after the environment in the Yass district.
As the honourable member for Burrinjuck said, the Betts family are long-term residents in the area. Mr John Betts, who lives down the Black Ranger Road, is a great environmentalist; he is seriously concerned about the environment. If the Government will not do it for the population, the industry or tourism opportunities, it might just do it for the environment. The Good Hope option seems to be a practical one. The climb would not be too steep from Good Hope up into the town, and electricity is not a problem because Yass is the centrepiece of the distribution of the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme.
As a layman I believe this is an opportunity for the Government to show it is serious about providing potable water for Yass. As to looking after country people, if Country Labor has any sting at all, it will make sure that Yass gets a major improvement in its water supply which will guarantee that the town survives average droughts without the problems it is currently experiencing and has experienced historically. I commend the motion to the House.
Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove) [12.19 p.m.]: I strongly support the motion moved by the honourable member for Burrinjuck. I acknowledge, pay tribute to, and commend the honourable member—I am sure this sentiment is shared by all honourable members—for working tirelessly and passionately for the people of Yass and Burrinjuck and for ensuring they get a fair deal from the State Government. In the 1800s members on the maternal side of my family were early settlers in Yass. My great-grandfather was a Yass shire clerk and I had relatives living in Yass until very recently, that is, before my great-aunt Ms Nellie Beckett passed away.
Yass is actively addressing its water supply problems and is seeking ways to conserve that supply. The honourable member for Burrinjuck referred earlier to the failure of Yass council to limit new developments—an unpalatable action caused by the failure of the Carr Labor Government to react to years of warnings about the impending water crisis. Time precluded the honourable member for Burrinjuck from mentioning all the good work done by Yass council to reserve its water supply, so she asked me to bring these matters to the attention of the House.
In October 2003 Yass council implemented a number of water-related strategies that sought to increase the capacity of the water supply, adopted water conservation matters including a rainwater tank subsidy for existing houses connected to the water supply system, implemented a regime of water restrictions to ensure the maintenance of supply, and investigated the potential to supplement the Yass Dam supply with a ground water supply.
The honourable member for Burrinjuck addressed the need to increase the capacity of the Yass town water supply and the problems that poses—something on which she should be congratulated. I commend Yass council for its proactive stance in support of its community. It is a shame that that active stance has not been reflected in the actions of the Carr Labor Government. Yass Valley Council has also adopted water conservation measures designed to save as much water as possible. Those measures include all new houses to be fitted with rainwater tanks, all new houses to have triple-A rated water-saving showerheads and dual flush toilets, a $200 subsidy to be provided for fitting new water tanks to existing houses that are connected to the town water supply, and shower flow regulators to be provided free of charge to increase the water efficiency of existing showers.
A stringent water restriction policy was developed and implemented. Yass was eventually placed on stage four water restrictions which, if implemented in Sydney, would probably have seen rioting in the streets. However, Yass residents responded magnificently, with few breaches, and the restrictions were finally fully eased late last year. Yass council also sank seven test bores to locate an emergency water supply. The honourable member for Burrinjuck has already acknowledged the emergency assistance received from the New South Wales Government for this project. Unfortunately, only one bore produced usable quantities of water with a flow rate of about one megalitre a day. That was sufficient to provide only 15 per cent of the average annual summer demand, and the water quality was such that it was suitable only for emergency use.
Yass Valley Council is not replete with funds; its financial resources are limited. It is interesting to contrast the $200 rainwater rebate with the rebate of up to $650 offered to Sydney residents by the Carr Labor Government. It instantly raises the question of why the Carr Labor Government does not support residents in Yass to the same degree as it supports residents in Sydney. NSW should not mean Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong; the Government should represent everyone in New South Wales.
Mr Steve Whan: Point of order: I point out to the honourable member for Lane Cove, who represents a North Shore electorate—
Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr John Mills): Order! There is no point of order. That is a debating point.
Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS: I represent the people of Lane Cove. I wish the honourable member for Monaro would start representing the people in his constituency by accepting the motion moved by the honourable member for Burrinjuck. Why will the Carr Labor Government not offer to top up rainwater tank subsidies offered by rural councils whose financial resources are often limited? Today we have had laid bare the Carr Labor Government's view of important crises in New South Wales. Hansard of 14 November 2002 shows that the Minister at the time made arrogant and flippant remarks about this issue. That same attitude was displayed in relation to the Crown roads enclosure debacle and to cutbacks to rail services.
The Government failed to keep its election promises about moving jobs to regional areas, for example corrective services jobs in Goulburn. There have also been real cuts in funding for noxious weed control. The list goes on. All those issues impact on people in rural and regional New South Wales. The Carr Government demonstrated breathtaking contempt for the people of rural New South Wales. Yass community is working to address its water supply problems but it has not had a firm commitment from the Carr Labor Government to develop a secure long-term water strategy. The people of Yass want results and action; they do not want words. [Time expired].
Mr WAYNE MERTON (Baulkham Hills) [12.24 p.m.]: People in one of the nicest country towns in New South Wales have been betrayed by the Australian Labor Party and the Carr Labor Government. If I were a member of Country Labor I would be ashamed that this has occurred. Yass is a major regional and growing community. Many people are moving into country areas to achieve a better lifestyle. With all the hassles to be found in the city, some people are looking to start a new life. They move into a beautiful area represented by a charming, energetic and competent member and things look pretty good, but in reality the town and the community are running out of water. Those who seek to defend the Government's position have circumvented this issue.
The honourable member for Monaro moved an amendment to the motion, whose thrust is to highlight that the Yass water supply is in dire need of urgent surgery. What is happening in Yass is symbolic of what is happening in many country towns in New South Wales. No-one disputes that water is in short supply. Today we are talking about a strategy to improve the water supply to afford long-term stability and security for people in that region. The council is to undertake an integrated water cycle management program. Obviously it is concerned, but even more concerned are those who are living in that area. Come next summer there might be no water.
Anyone who thinks that country towns in Australia do not run out of water is living in a dream world. The flow in many rivers has slowed, due to a combination of factors. I do not blame the Government for that but I am asking it to come up with solutions and alternatives so that this important part of regional New South Wales can be assured of a water supply. This desperate call from the people of Yass is based on a feeling of insecurity. They think their future is in jeopardy and that they will be denied a fundamental ingredient of everyday living, that is, water.
People in country New South Wales do not have the luxury of a water supply; they are dependent on rivers or town dams. If a town dam goes dry it is because the river has gone dry. Many people think that milk comes in cardboard cartons and that chooks have four legs. Similarly, many people in the city believe that taps provide an endless supply of water. I give Government members credit, they are probably trying to find a solution to this problem, but it is not good enough. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that people in this important region of New South Wales have an adequate water supply. [Time expired.]
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [12.29 p.m.], in reply: I thank all those who have contributed to this debate, including honourable members representing the electorates of Lachlan, Lane Cove, Monaro and Baulkham Hills. This is an extremely serious debate on a motion that has been languishing on the notice paper for a long time. I must disagree with the amendment to the motion by the honourable member for Monaro, in which he commends the Government for providing the Yass Valley Council with funding of more than $315,000 for emergency drought relief works. As I said earlier, although we appreciate that funding, the water supply problem must be rectified now. Therefore, I must stand by the words of my original motion, which states that we continue to require urgent assistance from this Government to enable a viable long-term solution regarding the town's water supply, which serves so many valuable parts of this State.
I referred earlier to the approach of the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister, Mr Stanhope, to this matter. The honourable member for Monaro also mentioned the Chief Minister's approach in quite strong terms. Those who live on the outskirts of the Australian Capital Territory feel frustrated by the Australian Capital Territory Government's extremely selfish approach to water usage by its residents. It is another cross-border anomaly, as the honourable member for Monaro pointed out in his contribution. When Chief Minister Stanhope wrote to the Yass Valley Council about the matter the Labor Government had not even responded to the council's request. Weeks later, when the Premier finally bothered to reply, he said that Yass's needs would be considered in the development of the cross-border water agreement for the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory cross-border region.
But the question remains: Where is the Premier's commitment to ensuring that Yass's water supply problems will be fixed? It is probably in the same place as the Premier's commitment to halve hospital waiting lists—a promise that he made with the Deputy Premier and signed in blood. This Government has been in office for 10 years and in that time the Yass town water supply has accelerated its slide to crisis point. Early recognition and prompt action by this Government would have averted the current situation. What is Labor doing now? It is just beginning to sit down with the Australian Capital Territory and Federal governments to begin the horse-trading necessary to reach an agreement that might just consider Yass and its future water needs.
Labor's response to this developing crisis has been way too slow. For years I have been calling for the development of a plan that would ensure long-term—we are talking 50 to 100 years—rural water supplies. We must look that far into the future and concentrate on the long term. Yass is suffering now because of this Government's years of neglect of this issue. As I said earlier, Yass and the Yass River catchment form the hub of a burgeoning rural lifestyle area that is placing significant strain on existing resources. Many people want to enjoy the great rural lifestyle that Yass offers. Yass is a beautiful place to live. It has an excellent Montessori preschool and other fantastic schools. Is it any wonder that many people want to live there?
Housing prices in Yass have boomed in the past few years and the council has been presented with plans for significant developments in the town and the surrounding region. These plans will increase employment and business opportunities for the entire community of Yass. But the Labor Government's tardy response to the water crisis has forced the council to make unpalatable decisions. In December last year Yass Valley Council was forced into a decision to allow only 20 new connections to the Yass water supply each year until 2010. A well-known surveyor in Yass has already contacted my office to express his concerns about the impact that this decision will have on employment and businesses in Yass.
Yass needs a firm commitment right now that the New South Wales Government will guarantee a reliable and safe supply of drinking water for the Yass community. The people of Yass need urgent and real assistance from the Government, and they need it immediately. They do not want some vague reassurances that their needs will be considered. How much longer will Yass, Bowning, Binalong, Binda, Bigga, Tuena and urban areas in the Burrinjuck electorate, such as Goulburn, that require action regarding their water supplies be hung out to dry by this Government, which is so city-centric as to appear blind to the real importance of water to regional communities? I appreciate the contributions to this debate by honourable members on both sides of the House. This issue is most important for the community of Yass. We have an ever-growing population and an ever-developing community. Locals commute regularly to the Australian Capital Territory to work and Yass is now viewed very much as a satellite town of Canberra. We must make sure that we have enough water to meet the needs of businesses and housing developments in this very important part of New South Wales. I thank honourable members for their attention. [Time expired.]
Question—That the words proposed to be left out stand—put.
The House divided.
Ayes, 35
Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Mr Barr
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mr Hartcher
Mr Hazzard
Ms Hodgkinson | Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr Oakeshott
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle
Mr Richardson
Mr Roberts | Ms Seaton
Mrs Skinner
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Stoner
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J. H. Turner
Mr R.W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire |
Noes, 46
Ms Allan
Ms Andrews
Mr Bartlett
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson
Mr Greene | Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Iemma
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McBride
Mr McLeay
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Ms Nori
Mr Orkopoulos
Mrs Paluzzano | Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Mr Price
Dr Refshauge
Mr Sartor
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon
Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin |
Pair
Question resolved in the negative.
Question—That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted—put.
The House divided.
Ayes, 47
Ms Allan
Ms Andrews
Mr Bartlett
Ms Beamer
Mr Black
Mr Brown
Ms Burney
Miss Burton
Mr Collier
Mr Corrigan
Mr Crittenden
Ms D'Amore
Mr Debus
Mr Gaudry
Mr Gibson
Mr Greene | Ms Hay
Mr Hickey
Mr Hunter
Mr Iemma
Ms Judge
Ms Keneally
Mr Knowles
Mr Lynch
Mr McBride
Mr McLeay
Ms Megarrity
Mr Mills
Mr Morris
Mr Newell
Ms Nori
Mr Orkopoulos | Mrs Paluzzano
Mr Pearce
Mrs Perry
Mr Price
Dr Refshauge
Mr Sartor
Mr Shearan
Mr Stewart
Mr Tripodi
Mr Watkins
Mr West
Mr Whan
Mr Yeadon
Tellers,
Mr Ashton
Mr Martin |
Noes, 35
Mr Aplin
Mr Armstrong
Mr Barr
Ms Berejiklian
Mr Cansdell
Mr Constance
Mr Debnam
Mr Draper
Mr Fraser
Mr Hartcher
Mr Hazzard
Ms Hodgkinson | Mrs Hopwood
Mr Humpherson
Mr Kerr
Mr Merton
Ms Moore
Mr O'Farrell
Mr Oakeshott
Mr Page
Mr Piccoli
Mr Pringle
Mr Richardson
Mr Roberts | Ms Seaton
Mrs Skinner
Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Souris
Mr Stoner
Mr Tink
Mr Torbay
Mr J.H. Turner
Mr R.W. Turner
Tellers,
Mr George
Mr Maguire |
Pair
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Motion as amended agreed to.
Last modified 05/12/2007 16:31:44 : Update this page