Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...
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7044<br />
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS<br />
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009<br />
Answer—<br />
(1) Yes and the regulations were made flexible to allow exemptions and defences to ensure that those<br />
economic circumstances were considered at the same time as the environmental and public health<br />
issues associated with leaking petrol tanks.<br />
(2) The location <strong>of</strong> rural operators was reviewed. The Department <strong>of</strong> Environment, Climate Change and<br />
Water is not able to assess the financial viability <strong>of</strong> individual businesses.<br />
(3) This was considered when the regulation was developed and a scheme to enable exemptions was<br />
implemented. The scheme allows for the deferral <strong>of</strong> an operator's obligations in keeping with<br />
individual circumstances and business capacity and the risk to public health and the environment.<br />
Commencement <strong>of</strong> the obligation to install groundwater monitoring wells has been deferred until<br />
June 2011. Operators can also apply for an exemption from compliance with these requirements for a<br />
further year with provision for renewal after 2012. Exemptions are considered based on risk, and the<br />
nature <strong>of</strong> the exemption is determined by the proximity <strong>of</strong> the site to environmentally sensitive<br />
zones.<br />
(4) <strong>No</strong>.<br />
*7338 WATER SUPPLY—Mr Craig Baumann asked the Minister for Water, and Minister for Regional<br />
Development—<br />
(1) What is the response from the Minister to a University <strong>of</strong> Technology Sydney report which found<br />
there is a "one in a million chance" that reservoir levels will fall enough to warrant use <strong>of</strong> the Tillegra<br />
Dam?<br />
(2) What "internal modelling" carried out by the NSW Government predicts rainfall will increase by<br />
10% over the next 40 years?<br />
(3) Why have those documents not been made public?<br />
(4) Has the Government investigated the likelihood <strong>of</strong> Port Stephens residents in particular receiving<br />
water from the Tillegra Dam?<br />
(5) How is the desalination plant being funded - solely by Sydney Water ratepayers or water ratepayers<br />
across the state?<br />
Answer—<br />
(1) There have already been four independents reports confirming Hunter Water's figures are robust<br />
which take into account current storages, rainfall and projected population growth for the area. The<br />
Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) determination confirms that there is no<br />
cheaper alternative to water security for the Hunter than Tillegra Dam. In fact, IPART engaged its<br />
own independent consultants, SKM, to analyse Hunter water's yield estimates and water<br />
consumption forecasts. The SKM report confirms that Hunter Water's system is in need <strong>of</strong><br />
augmentation.<br />
(2) Rainfall trends in the lower Hunter are discussed in detail in Hunter Water's H250 Plan - Securing<br />
Our Water Future.<br />
(3) The H250 Plan - Securing Our Water Future is publicly available.<br />
(4) Water from Tillegra Dam will be released down the Williams River and transferred into<br />
Grahamstown Dam via Balickera Canal. Water from Grahamstown Dam is treated and transported to<br />
reservoirs throughout the Port Stephens area.<br />
(5) The cost <strong>of</strong> the Kurnell desalination plant will be recovered from Sydney Water Corporation's<br />
customers, across Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.<br />
*7339 SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION—Mr Craig Baumann asked the Premier, and Minister for<br />
the Arts—<br />
What was the "significant assistance package to Swedish company Sandvik Mining and Construction"<br />
provided by the NSW Government to Sandvik for its business establishment in Heatherbrae, as indicated<br />
in Question Time on 25 June 2009?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised that the amount <strong>of</strong> assistance <strong>of</strong>fered to Sandvik Mining and Construction is commercial-inconfidence.<br />
*7340 WIDENING OF NELSON BAY ROAD—Mr Craig Baumann asked the Minister for Roads—<br />
(1) Following the Government's Budget commitment <strong>of</strong> $1 million to the planning <strong>of</strong> the widening <strong>of</strong><br />
Nelson Bay Road between Bob's Farm and Anna Bay, when is construction expected to begin?<br />
(2) Is funding available for construction to begin in 2009-10?<br />
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