ACT Water Resource Management

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope today announced three key targets for managing water more sustainably in the ACT, which will put Canberra at the forefront of water resource management.

The targets are part of the Government's new landmark policy on water, Water ACT: a Draft Policy for Sustainable Water Management

"First, we want to achieve a 12 per cent reduction in per capita use of potable water over the next 10 years, and a 25 per cent reduction by 2023," Mr Stanhope said.

"This is on top of the 20 per cent reduction the community has achieved since 1993.

"Our second target is to increase the proportion of treated effluent that we re-use to 20 per cent over the next 10 years.

"Currently only around 5 per cent is re-used, and the rest is returned to the Molonglo River as high standard tertiary treated effluent. Meeting this target will also contribute to reducing potable water demand.

"Our third target is to limit the amount of stormwater flow from newly developed areas to the same amount that flowed before development.

"These targets are ambitious but necessary. We can achieve them, and at a reasonable cost."

Mr Stanhope said these targets would meet the six objectives of the new water policy. These are:
* securing a long-term, reliable source of water for the ACT and region;
* increasing the efficiency of water use;
* promoting the development and implementation of an integrated regional approach to ACT/NSW cross-border water supply and management;
* protecting the water quality in ACT rivers, lakes and aquifers, to maintain and enhance environmental, amenity, recreational and designated use values and to protect the health of people in the ACT and down river;
* incorporating water sensitive urban design principles into urban, commercial and industrial development; and
* promoting and providing for community involvement and partnership in the way we deal with our challenges, including the preparation of the ACT Water Resources Strategy.

"People have understood the absolute importance of water for thousands of years, but we still haven't learned to respect it," Mr Stanhope said.

"I have said before that we are facing a water crisis here in the ACT. Although this may sound alarmist, it is most definitely true.

"Water levels in our dams are currently at 43 per cent, down from 57 per cent last December. We are in stage 2 water restrictions, and it looks like we will soon reach stage 3, which will mean no one will be able to use sprinklers to water their gardens.

"Predictions are that our current water infrastructure will only meet our demands until about 2020, and it won't be adequate over this timeframe if there is a lot less rainfall, if our population unexpectedly grows and if our catchment yields decline as a result of bushfires.

"We need to ensure we have a reliable, affordable supply of water. I don't believe that building another water supply dam is the answer - the financial, ecological and social costs are too high.

"We must act as an entire community to change our behaviour and limit our water use. We must also remember that we are part of a larger water system and that people in the surrounding region rely on us for their water supply.

"We need to plan and manage our resources carefully, and this new water policy will guide us in doing this. It outlines the broad direction we are taking and our objectives, and sets targets for managing our water resources.

"Meeting our three targets will place Canberra at the forefront of water resource management.

"And most importantly, they are necessary if the ACT is to avoid the financial, ecological and social costs of a new dam."

Copies of Water ACT: a Draft Policy for Sustainable Water Management can be obtained by calling 6207 9777 or online at: www.sustainability.act.gov.au/pdf/water_policy.pdf

Released: 3 July 2003
Inquiries: Penny Farnsworth: 6205 0434(w) 6282 4347(h) 0417 481 407(m)

Jon Stanhope MLA
CHIEF MINISTER
ATTORNEY GENERAL MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

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