[Greens-Media] Senate report raises serious water concerns

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Senate report raises serious water concerns

Senator Rachel Siewert, Chair of the Rural, Regional & Transport
References Committee tabled a report today that raises serious concerns
about the state of the nation's water policy initiatives.

"The committee raised major concerns about the issues of climate change,
the over-allocation of our river systems, the need for water recycling
and increasing conflict between urban and rural demands for a greater
share of a depleting resource," said Senator Siewert.

The report said that, while the extent of climate change may be
uncertain,
"...it is clear that any significant change in rainfall and temperature
patterns could leave a major hole in our water accounting processes that
has major implications for our resource management policy, legislation
and practice." 

We need to give serious consideration to the implications this could
have for our agricultural industries, the sustainability and limits on
growth of our cities..."

In her speech to the Senate, Senator Siewert said:

"Taken together with the Committee's other very important inquiry into
Australia's oil supplies, we have a combination of issues (a double
whammy) that could potentially have massive implications for the future
of our agricultural industries, the viability of our rural towns, the
sustainability of growing cities, and the nature of our economy."

The committee report also highlighted the issue of water recycling,
saying.
"Given the sustainability limits on Australian supplies together with
increasing demand as our nation grows, it is inevitable that we will
have to embrace water recycling on a much greater scale."

"The majority of Australia's major cities dams are less than 50% full at
the end of winter," said Senator Siewert. 

This report comes on the eve of changes to the Senate Committee system
which will see the government chairing and having a majority on all
Senate committees.

	         
For more information or comment call 

Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au
RESCUE THE SENATE

Senator Rachel Siewert
Chair, Senate Rural, Regional & Transport References Committee
Thursday, 7 September 2006