SOUTHERN
FORESTS IRRIGATION SCHEME
42. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Regional
Development:
I refer to the southern forests irrigation scheme and the
review of data by the CSIRO's senior hydrologist.
(1) When will the review be complete?
(2) Will the review results and report be made public; if
yes, when; and, if not, why not?
(3) Is the
minister aware whether the Environmental Protection Authority review process will
include the results of the CSIRO review?
(4) Will the
minister request that the Minister for Environment suspend the EPA's
review until the results of the CSIRO data review is completed; and, if not,
why not?
(5) It has
been suggested that the flow of water for environmental purposes from the
Record Brook Dam may be released from the lower section of the dam where the
more saline water will occur. What conditions will be placed on the scheme to
ensure that the released water is of a quality suitable to support the
downstream vegetation, including the Stewart Tree?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question. I know that I have had
the answer, but unfortunately a copy of it is not here. I will seek to recall
the content and will be happy to provide any additional information.
(1)–(4)
As the member will be aware, we were concerned about the challenges that were
being made to the data and the modelling that underpins the southern forests
irrigation scheme, particularly in relation to the stream flows from the
forested areas. We then undertook to have an independent review done by CSIRO.
That has been commissioned by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development as opposed to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation,
which is the department that has done the modelling. The well-known hydrologist
who is doing that project is currently out in the field doing that work and we
anticipate that we will have a report on that later this month. The member will
be aware that I have made a very public pledge that that information will
become public, obviously after we have received the report and considered it.
We absolutely anticipate that this material will feed into the Environmental
Protection Authority assessment and will become a part of the EPA assessment.
If the EPA needs to take a longer time for its public environmental review
process because of that information coming in, that is a decision that the EPA
will make. But, clearly, this is going to be of use to the EPA in making its
assessment of the project.
(5) On the issue
of the problem of saline water, where the environmental flow will come from and
whether it will be released from lower sections, we are not familiar with that
issue. I have sought further advice on it. When we obtain something, we will
let the member know.