WHITSUNDAY WATER PLAN A GREEN LIGHT FOR INNOVATIVE GROWTH

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace and Whitsunday MP Jan Jarratt today announced a draft water resource plan for the Whitsunday region which aims to secure existing water supplies and provide for growth by introducing water trading to drive efficiency and innovation.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said that the draft plan, developed in close consultation with the community, was now open for public scrutiny and comment prior to finalisation.

“I would encourage all members of the Whitsunday community to view the draft and contribute to the final plan through the submissions process, which closes on 27 October 2008,” Ms Jarratt said.

Minister Wallace said the draft Whitsunday Water Resource Plan addressed surface water, including overland flows, and groundwater in an area that includes the catchments of the Proserpine, O’Connell and Andromache Rivers, and Thompson Creek.

“The strategy recognises the importance of managing water as it flows between floodplains, streams and aquifers,” Mr Wallace said.

“This plan will provide a solid basis for managing water to sustain the many elements that contribute to the regional lifestyle. While the needs of towns, agriculture and industry are important, so too are the needs of the unique natural environment that also contributes to regional prosperity,” Mr Wallace said.

“We have established that apart from some additional water that can be made available in the Andromache and O’Connell Rivers and in the Thompson Creek and Lethe Brook sub-catchments, growth must be addressed by efficiency gains with the existing supplies. The chief tool for addressing growth in this way will be through the introduction of water trading,” Mr Wallace said.

Tradable water allocations which can be freely bought and sold, secured against clearly specified performance indicators, will work within this new water market to encourage continually improving efficiency.

“Managing the Queensland’s water resources to sustain a great lifestyle, maintain the health of our unique natural environment, and provide for growth against a background of climatic uncertainty is a considerable challenge,” Mr Wallace said.

“The Bligh Government recognises this challenge and is planning for the future of the Whitsunday region.”

For the health of the environment and associated non-consumptive uses such as tourism and fisheries, the draft plan specifies outcomes and a range of supportive strategies. The natural assets that will benefit from the provisions include the Proserpine-Goorganga Plain Wetlands, waterholes, the estuarine environment and the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.

For further information visit www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp/whitsunday.html

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.