Mr Kelvin Thomson asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 16 October 2003:

(1)  What funds will be available in 2004-05 to initiate new Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIP).

(2)  In respect of the media release dated 10 August 2003 which announced a series of “interim water quality projects” for Adelaide's Port Waterways, is the Government intending to fund interim projects for the (a) Derwent Estuary, (b) Peel Harvey, (c) Douglas Shire, (d) Moreton Bay, and (e) Port Phillip Bay; if so, (i) what projects are proposed at this stage, and (ii) how much is planned to be spent on interim projects in each of these coastal areas.

(3)  In respect of interim water quality projects, (a) how are they identified and assessed for suitability, (b) what types of projects are typically being funded and why, and (c) what criteria or guidelines are used for funding interim projects.

(4)  In respect of the statement that “there are no plans to further expand the Coastal Catchments Initiative (CCI) in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) at this stage”, how does he reconcile this position with (a) his statement on 30 January 2003, which “encouraged other local governments and catchment groups adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef to consider preparing water quality improvement plans for their area with assistance available under the Commonwealth's Coastal Catchments Initiative”, and (b) the May 2003 draft Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.

(5)  In respect of the advice that only $55,000 is available during 2003-2004 for development of water quality plans in the GBR and that this is allocated to Douglas Shire, (a) has he misled the Queensland community in encouraging their interest in the CCI, (b) has the draft Reef Water Quality Protection Plan also misled the GBR community on the true capacity of the CCI to assist them to improve GBR water quality.

(6)  In respect of the advice that WQIPs and the findings of these Plans will be incorporated into Regional National Resource Management (NRM) Plans, (a) will the Government give priority to investing through regional investment strategies in the implementation of WQIPs, (b) will this be made clear to Regional NRM bodies and local governments that develop these Plans, and (c) will this planning and investment model be used elsewhere.

Dr Kemp —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1)  The Natural Heritage Trust Board is yet to consider 2004-05 funding to initiate new Water Quality Improvement Plans.

(2)  The Australian Government is already funding interim water quality projects in Adelaide's Port Waterways, Peel Harvey and Douglas Shire. The Government is yet to make funding decisions on interim water quality projects for the Derwent Estuary, Moreton Bay or Port Phillip Bay.

(3)  In respect of interim water quality projects; (a) The Department of the Environment and Heritage identifies interim project proposals in collaboration with the agency contracted to prepare the Water Quality Improvement Plan and develops the proposals in collaboration with agencies best placed to execute the interim projects. Interim projects are identified and assessed for suitability against interim project criteria (see below); (b) The types of projects typically being funded as interim water quality projects include:

  establishing water quality monitoring programs,

  developing water quality models and decision support systems,

  implementing water sensitive design,

  pollution control licensing regulation and practice reviews,

  identifying, assessing and implementing rural best management practices; and

  developing market-based instruments for water quality improvement.

(c)  The criteria used for identifying interim projects include that the project:

  addresses the pollutant(s) of concern in the WQIP;

  pursues institutional reforms and capacity building necessary to implement the WQIP;

  addresses critical sources of the pollutant(s) of concern through targeted and strategic level investments;

  develops tools, protocols, models or decision-support systems considered critical for identifying, implementing or monitoring cost-effective investments in pollutant load reductions; and/or

  addresses the cumulative impact on water quality of further agricultural and residential land use development.

(4)  Further implementation of the Coastal Catchments Initiative in the Great Barrier Reef catchment will be considered in the context of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (RWQPP).

(5)  No. See (4) above.

(6)  (a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) Yes, as appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the National Action Plan and the Natural Heritage Trust.