PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Mr GOSLING (Solomon) (11:16): Our federal government is delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full. I want to not only acknowledge the national significance of the basin to our nation but also the fact that climate change will mean that a hotter and drier basin in the future, less predictable rainfall. Water availability is going to make it particularly challenging and that's why it this is so important to get right.

We accept that changes are happening to patterns and that we must make hard decisions to make sure that there's enough water to sustain not only the communities that honourable members represent but also industry's needs and the environmental requirements for that climate-impacted future. The member for Spence articulated this extremely well earlier, particularly from a South Australian perspective, but I want to acknowledge the genuine interests that are held by those further upstream as well.

Our Labor government has a significant body of work across the nation that will shape the management of water, including environmental water, for a generation. Investment in diverse and climate resilient water sources to maintain water security across Australia is a national priority. I was proud to represent Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Murray Watt, at the opening of the Manton Dam Return to Service project earlier this month just south of Darwin.

This project is part of a sustainable long-term infrastructure solution that will deliver safe and secure drinking water for Territorians, as well as enable economic growth and job creation through sustainable irrigated agriculture and industry expansion. The Manton Dam Return to Service project was funded by our federal government through the National Water Grid Fund and in partnership with the Territory government.

Under the Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program stage 1, the Commonwealth invested $300 million, or over 90 per cent of the funding, and the Territory government the balance of about $27 million. This investment supports expected growth in demand within the Darwin region and builds water security, which will support generations to come and ensure the region can continue to grow by delivering safe, reliable water supply for the Territory.

This is the most significant water infrastructure milestone in the Territory in 50 years, since the Darwin River Dam was built in the early 1970s, and it's a critical addition to Darwin's future water supply. The project includes delivery of upgrades at Manton Dam's reservoir, the new Strauss Water Treatment Plant that I visited recently delivering really high water quality standards, a new pump station and 22 kilometres of pipeline to deliver water to the plant from the reservoir.

This reservoir is a unique multi-use asset that will continue to provide recreational opportunities for Territorians and visitors while supporting Darwin's future water security, with the project delivering an additional 7,300 megalitres of water each year. Importantly, Manton Dam continues to be a place for locals and visitors to relax at and enjoy while also helping to secure more water for the greater Darwin region.

The project team tells me that the project has come in $15 million under budget, and it was a strong partnership between a local contractor, Exact Contracting, and the Power and Water Corporation and the Northern Territory government to ensure the project was delivered on time and under budget. That $15 million by which it came in under budget is going to be reallocated to planning works for the proposed Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage, or AROWS, project, also part of stage 1 of the Darwin Region Water Supply Infrastructure Program.

I heard honourable members earlier mentioning dams. This AROWS project is the building of a reservoir that is off the Adelaide River, to be filled with Adelaide River water and used for continued water security into the future. These projects improve redundancy and enable growth and economic development in the Darwin region over the long term.

The updated National Water Agreement ensures water planning is risk based and adaptive to respond to increasing demand and climate variability to maintain urban water security, which is, of course, a very big priority for me as the federal member for Solomon, including the great northern cities of Darwin and Palmerston, just as the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is for so many here, for the good of our nation.