Page 3653 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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I met with Professor Falconer twice during the past financial year and received positive updates on the coordination group’s efforts. I want to take this opportunity to commend Professor Falconer for his service to the coordination group. Professor Falconer has completed his role as chair, leaving behind a successful legacy as an influential and passionate advocate for delivering better water resource outcomes for the ACT and surrounding region. He has led the coordination group since its inception and I look forward to welcoming a suitable successor in due course. On behalf of the Assembly, I thank Professor Falconer for his service and dedication.
The catchment strategy seeks to improve resilience and the ability to address change for the ACT and region, particularly in terms of increased potential for temperature rises, rainfall variation, more extreme climate events such as bushfires and flooding, and changing land use, particularly increased development.
The annual report details the major achievements of the coordination group, provides an update on the broader progress on implementation of the catchment strategy and sets out the priorities for 2019-20.
Let me mention some of the notable highlights from the coordination group in 2018-19. Phase 1 of the healthy waterways Lake Tuggeranong water quality research program was completed, with phase 2 now underway. There was the successful continuation of the H2OK stormwater education program, which last year included a water-impacting awareness survey of 330 Canberrans that demonstrated that the program is making a real impact.
Efforts to secure the region’s water resources were increased through diligent and thorough investigations into the feasibility of water trading. Multiple water infrastructure projects were constructed, including four rain gardens, eight wetlands, two ponds and two waterway restorations in 14 suburbs across Canberra. Fruitful and positive engagement throughout the year with neighbouring jurisdictions, water resource managers, catchment group leaders and government agencies has helped guide our decision-making for managing the region’s water resources and waterways. And there has been the endorsement of an interjurisdictional investment framework so that we can continue supporting water catchment initiatives across the region.
The government supports the proposed activities of the group for 2019-20. Some of the more notable activities that the group will focus on are undertaking distribution of funds through the interjurisdictional investment framework now that this framework has been endorsed; working to improve data monitoring by working more closely with citizen science groups like Frogwatch and Waterwatch; intensifying efforts to investigate the feasibility of water trading as an economically rational and flexible way to manage our precious water resources; distributing the recently produced ACT and region catchment post-emergency recovery plan and establishing a working group to look at how all surrounding jurisdictions can adopt and implement this important initiative; and developing water discharge guidelines for the proposed Queanbeyan water sewage plant to ensure protection for Lake Burley Griffin.
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