Page 5199 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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Murrumbidgee River - Sand Mining
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I would like to answer a question that Mr Moore asked of me yesterday. It had to do with the removal of sand from the Murrumbidgee River. The last part of his question was:
So is the Alliance Government sticking to point 3.6 of its policy, of ensuring that no sand and gravel extracted from the Murrumbidgee River in New South Wales is being used here, or is it not?
I took the question on notice. Mr Speaker, the Alliance Government's policy on sand mining in the Murrumbidgee is clearly stated in point 4.11 of its environment strategy, not point 3.6. I think you must have made the number up.
Mr Moore: I must have had a draft version that was leaked earlier.
MR KAINE: I think you must have made the number up. It states that Government authorities and departments will continue not to use sand and gravel extracted from the Murrumbidgee River in New South Wales. We adopted this position to ensure a consistent regional approach. Since the Alliance Government prohibited commercial sand mining of the river within our borders, for very sound environmental reasons, it was necessary that we should also refuse to create a market for sand mined in the Murrumbidgee outside our borders.
The statements made by Mr Hyles in the Canberra Times of 7 December 1990 are of some concern to the Government. I am advised that it is possible that some agencies of the Administration may have inadvertently and indirectly purchased sand from Mr Hyles, although no evidence has been found to support that claim. This situation could have come about if contractors engaged by the ACT Administration in turn subcontracted work directly to Mr Hyles' company or to companies which may have bought sand from Mr Hyles remote from the Government. Accordingly, those areas of the Administration contracting for sand are now reviewing tender documents to see whether the Government's policy can be more effectively enforced.
While we are taking whatever measures we can to ensure the environmental protection of the Murrumbidgee, it must be pointed out that the responsibility for controlling environmental vandalism in New South Wales rests with the New South Wales local and State agencies.
The Assembly will be aware, no doubt, that the issue of extractive industries is now receiving proper attention by all governments in the region and not just the ACT. Under the umbrella of the South East Economic Development Council,
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