Hon. Dee Margetts questions the Water and Rivers Commission about unspent funds in 2002-03 for rural water supply assistance and a significant budget increase for 2003-04. The answer explains the fluctuations are due to the unpredictable nature of farmer grant progress and drought assistance funding.

AnsweredQoN 923Legislative Council
Asked
24 June 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

With regard to Budget Estimates 2003-04 the budget estimate for the Water and Rivers Commission’s Output 4. Rural Water Supply Assistance in 2002-03 was $2,448,000 (p630, Budget Paper No. 2) -
(1) Why was $1,577,000 left unspent for by the Commission for Output 4 in 2002-03?
(2) Why has there been such a significant increase in the budget estimate for this Output in 2003-04 (from $2,448,000 to $4,460,000)?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
8 August 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
45 days
(1) This output deals with the allocation of on-farm water grants. The progress payments associated with these grants is very much driven by when farmers proceed with projects, being often difficult to predict. In 2002-03, these payments were lower than anticipated and, therefore, the Commission transferred approximately $1.6 million of funding originally appropriated in 2002-03 to 2003-04, thus the reduction in overall expenditure for this output. (2) The budget estimate for this output has increased in 2003-04 as a result of the reason given in (1) above, together with the inclusion of $1.5 million of funding approved by ERC in 2002-03 for on-farm water grants scheme (drought assistance) and appropriated in 2003-04.
(2) The budget estimate for this output has increased in 2003-04 as a result of the reason given in (1) above, together with the inclusion of $1.5 million of funding approved by ERC in 2002-03 for on-farm water grants scheme (drought assistance) and appropriated in 2003-04.

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