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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7032<br />
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS<br />
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009<br />
(5) Given that there are plans by the NSW Government to amalgamate more than 160 Government<br />
agencies together into 13 super-departments in the near future, will this untimely decision be<br />
reversed by the Minister?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised by State Water:<br />
(1) In its recent restructure, State Water identified Tamworth as an area <strong>of</strong> growing importance which<br />
required the allocation <strong>of</strong> more resources, and consequently larger <strong>of</strong>fice accommodation was required.<br />
(2) to (4) The relocation will result in a saving <strong>of</strong> $8,000 pa in annual rent and provide better services to<br />
the local community.<br />
(5) State Water is a state-owned corporation and is not affected by the restructure <strong>of</strong> public sector<br />
agencies.<br />
*7304 MR T SMITH—REQUEST FOR MEETING—Ms Katrina Hodgkinson asked the Minister for Water,<br />
and Minister for Regional Development—<br />
(1) Why has the Director General <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Commerce not replied to the 6 August 2009<br />
letter from Mr T Smith <strong>of</strong> Yass, in response to the Director General's letter (reference RML<br />
M09⁄3785 dated 22 July 2009) asking him to provide specific details <strong>of</strong> alleged occupational and<br />
health and safety concerns?<br />
(2) Given that Mr Smith has previously provided information to the Department with no outcome, will<br />
the Director General meet with Mr Smith as requested in his letter <strong>of</strong> 6 August?<br />
Answer—<br />
As the matter does not relate to the Water portfolio, I suggest that the Member direct her question to the<br />
relevant Minister.<br />
*7305 LIVING MURRAY PROGRAM—Ms Katrina Hodgkinson asked the Deputy Premier, Minister for<br />
Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce—<br />
(1) Given the announcement by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that it has received more than 100<br />
willing sellers under the latest water buy back <strong>of</strong>fer, how much water has actually been bought by<br />
NSW under the Living Murray Program?<br />
(2) What was the security status <strong>of</strong> the water bought?<br />
(3) What was the amount expended by the NSW Government in purchasing this water?<br />
(4) How many more permanent water entitlements are required to meet the commitment made by the<br />
NSW Government to the Living Murray Program for 2009?<br />
Answer—<br />
(1) 128,520 megalitres <strong>of</strong> Long-Term Cap Equivalent (LTCE) water access entitlement have been<br />
purchased by NSW from willing sellers under The Living Murray (TLM) program to date.<br />
(2) TLM reports recovered entitlement on the common basis <strong>of</strong> megalitres <strong>of</strong> LTCE, which<br />
approximates the long term average allocation available to the entitlement. Most <strong>of</strong> the entitlement<br />
purchased by NSW under the TLM program is general security entitlement, with approximately 20<br />
per cent being supplementary access entitlement and only small volumes <strong>of</strong> high security<br />
entitlement.<br />
(3) Approximately $209 million has been expended by NSW in purchasing this water entitlement, with<br />
approximately $147 million <strong>of</strong> this total provided by the other jurisdictions as investment partners<br />
under the TLM program.<br />
(4) TLM has an overall target <strong>of</strong> 500,000 megalitres LTCE. NSW will achieve approximately 220,000<br />
megalitres LTCE through a mix <strong>of</strong> water purchase and infrastructure measures that are finalised or<br />
currently in progress. The other partner governments (Commonwealth, Victoria and <strong>South</strong> Australia)<br />
and the Murray Darling Basin Authority have projects in progress which are expected to recover the<br />
balance <strong>of</strong> the 500,000 megalitre program target.<br />
*7306 STEEL RESLEEPING—HORNSBY ELECTORATE—Mrs Judy Hopwood asked the Minister for<br />
Transport, and Minister for the Illawarra—<br />
Have any Rail Infrastructure Corporation new works allocations in Budget <strong>Paper</strong> <strong>No</strong>. 4 (2009-2010<br />
Budget) been targeted to "steel resleeping" in the Hornsby electorate?<br />
Answer—<br />
I am advised:<br />
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