❓ Question regarding water quality in Swan & Canning Rivers is raised. Minister for Agriculture & Food outlines government initiatives to reduce nutrient runoff, focusing on fertiliser management programs and funding.
AnsweredQoN 907Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN AND CANNING RIVERS — WATER QUALITY
As the minister will be aware, my electorate of Mount Lawley has a boundary on some impressive parts of the Swan River, which is an important part of the lifestyle of many of my constituents. As the minister with responsibility for natural resource management in this state, what steps are he and the government taking to address water quality concerns in the Swan and Canning Rivers? Mr D.T. REDMAN
As the minister will be aware, my electorate of Mount Lawley has a boundary on some impressive parts of the Swan River, which is an important part of the lifestyle of many of my constituents. As the minister with responsibility for natural resource management in this state, what steps are he and the government taking to address water quality concerns in the Swan and Canning Rivers? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question and for his interest in the water quality of our river systems. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 75(1) states that ministers may be asked questions on matters related to their administrative responsibilities. I realise that the member for Mount Lawley indicated that this minister is responsible for natural resource management, but surely issues concerning the Swan River would have to be directed to either the Minister for Environment or the Minister for Water. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question and for his interest in the water quality of our river systems. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 75(1) states that ministers may be asked questions on matters related to their administrative responsibilities. I realise that the member for Mount Lawley indicated that this minister is responsible for natural resource management, but surely issues concerning the Swan River would have to be directed to either the Minister for Environment or the Minister for Water. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question and for his interest in the water quality of our river systems. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 75(1) states that ministers may be asked questions on matters related to their administrative responsibilities. I realise that the member for Mount Lawley indicated that this minister is responsible for natural resource management, but surely issues concerning the Swan River would have to be directed to either the Minister for Environment or the Minister for Water. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question and for his interest in the water quality of our river systems. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 75(1) states that ministers may be asked questions on matters related to their administrative responsibilities. I realise that the member for Mount Lawley indicated that this minister is responsible for natural resource management, but surely issues concerning the Swan River would have to be directed to either the Minister for Environment or the Minister for Water. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question and for his interest in the water quality of our river systems. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 75(1) states that ministers may be asked questions on matters related to their administrative responsibilities. I realise that the member for Mount Lawley indicated that this minister is responsible for natural resource management, but surely issues concerning the Swan River would have to be directed to either the Minister for Environment or the Minister for Water. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Members! I am hearing a point of order. Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is asking the Minister for Agriculture and Food about areas that are clearly outside his administrative responsibility. Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Dr K.D. HAMES : As the former minister for water resources in the previous government, the member for Rockingham will be aware that a large number of the problems in the Swan and Canning Rivers relate to agriculture practices. I think the question is entirely relevant. The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : I will allow the question. Minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, obviously you did not hear what I said earlier about question time. I formally call you for the second time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Members will be aware that water quality improvement plans are in place for the Swan-Canning, Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup waterways. As the member for Rockingham highlighted, the core responsibility for those waterways is with the Minister for Environment, but I will talk about the role of natural resource management funds, for which I am the responsible minister. One of the key components of the water quality improvement plans is our target to reduce nutrient run-off, responsibility for which falls within my portfolio area. Reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways has the ensuing impact of reducing eutrophication and its impacts. The government has put in place a fertiliser action plan, which is important in reducing nutrient run-off into those waterways. Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Earlier this year I made an announcement in Harvey about the Fertcare program. The Fertcare program is a national industry program that aims to improve water quality by reducing the nutrient levels in coastal catchments through the sustainable use of fertiliser. It is a very important program. We need to acknowledge the support that the agriculture industry has for this program. The dairy cattle industry in particular is very supportive of the program. The dairy cattle industry is taking ownership of nutrient run-off. It has an industry-supported process under Fertcare to manage the use of fertilisers. If this is done properly, there are significant improvements in reducing input costs. There are also developments in the evaluation and adoption of low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers and the adoption of soil amendments to increase the ability of sandy soils to retain phosphorus. These are steps that the Liberal-National government is taking and supporting to reduce fertiliser run-off into our waterways. On top of that, in May this year the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Water and I announced state government funding of $610 000 from the natural resource management fund for field trials aimed at minimising the effect of highly water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers under the fertiliser action plan. The state Australian Labor Party failed, because of lack of funding, to implement those plans. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : We have stepped up to the plate and we are supporting and backing the importance of maintaining reduced nutrient run-off into those particular waterways. In October, I also announced funding of $500 000 to continue best practice fertiliser management demonstration for grazing and horticultural industries under the fertiliser action plan. To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
To respond directly to the question that the member for Mount Lawley asked, we have also allocated $3.19 million to improve water quality in the Swan and Canning Rivers. It is the largest single allocation under the natural resource management program, and I am sure the member will be very supportive of that. From a phosphorus perspective, the Swan-Canning improvement plan identified that the main source of phosphorus entering the river system was from farming activities in the Ellenbrook subcatchment, and of course the main source of nitrogen was residential and recreational activities from the subcatchment in the urban areas. This funding will be utilised to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of nutrient-stripping wetlands in the Ellenbrook catchment, which includes the construction of three nutrient-stripping wetlands on Southern River, nutrient intervention remediation, removal of contaminants in a basin in the Mill Street drain and the application of nutrient-binding material in the Canning River, as well as other waterway restoration projects. The Liberal-National government is supporting natural resources through this $30 million program, a large part of which will be spent on work done on the Swan-Canning catchment, and, of course, we will support significant improvements in that regard.
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