WATER RESOURCE ASSESSMENT — FITZROY CATCHMENT
1306. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to question without notice
1284.
(1) Will the
minister table any correspondence between the state and federal governments on
the Fitzroy catchment and the development of the water allocation plan?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the
minister table any correspondence that highlights any actions already taken in
the development and management of the Fitzroy catchment?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the
member for the question.
(1)–(2) Both
the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development were actively involved in technical
aspects of the commonwealth-led northern Australia water resource assessment,
released in September this year. CSIRO briefed state government agencies on the
report and the information will be used to inform our election commitments.
(3) On Tuesday, 27 November, the McGowan government
announced the appointment of Mr Bardy McFarlane as an expert stakeholder convenor on the Fitzroy River election
commitments. Last week, in the Kimberley, Mr McFarlane met with a range of
stakeholders, including Environs Kimberley, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council,
Rangelands NRM WA, the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association, Jack
Burton, Hancock Pastoral and local government representatives. I expect that Mr
McFarlane will engage with the commonwealth government as part of the
consultative process. I table the relevant press release.
[See paper 2303.]