Statement from Environment
Minister on Tasmanian forestry
31 March, 2011
The Gillard Government has today received
an interim report from Mr Bill Kelty who
is facilitating progress on the Statement
of Principles agreed between conservation
groups, the CFMEU and the timber industry
in Tasmania.
We thank Mr Kelty for
his hard work with signatories to the agreement
in identifying the next steps in the process.
The Government will
now consider findings and recommendations
in Mr Kelty's report.
The Government expects
to respond to Mr Kelty's report in coming
weeks.
The Gillard Government
is committed to working with the Tasmanian
community to respond to the challenges facing
the forest industry.
It is a credit to those
involved that after decades of conflict
they have been able to start to work through
those challenges.
The Statement of Principles
started with community and industry groups
coming together. It is not an agreement
between governments.
But it will only stay
together if the determination that started
that process is maintained by the groups
involved.
The Gillard Government
believes an agreement would be a good result
for jobs and a good result for the environment
in Tasmania.
In October last year,
the Tasmanian forestry industry and several
environmental non government organisations
reached an historic high level principals
agreement for protecting native forests
and developing a sustainable timber industry
in Tasmania.
The Gillard Government
welcomed the landmark agreement and in December
last year appointed Mr Kelty as independent
facilitator to assist signatories to progress
the agreement and report back to the Government.
+ More
Secure water future
for Australia's National Botanic Gardens
24 March 2011
The Australian National Botanic Gardens
will be irrigated with water from Lake Burley
Griffin, saving up to 170 million litres
of Canberra's drinking water each year.
Parliamentary Secretary
for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator
Don Farrell, and ACT Senator Kate Lundy
this morning turned on the tap for a new
$2.9 million pipeline which will draw the
Gardens' irrigation requirements from the
Lake.
The Senators said the
two-year project secures a long-term water
supply for the Gardens' magnificent living
collection of plants, fulfilling the Government's
2007 commitment to use Lake Burley Griffin
as a sustainable source of water for the
Gardens.
"The project will
see up to 170 million litres of water delivered
from Lake Burley Griffin to the Gardens
each year - meaning the Gardens will no
longer rely on Canberra's drinking water
supply to sustain their living collection.
It will also allow regular irrigation even
in times of tough water restrictions,"
Senator Farrell said.
When this project was
launched in December 2009, Canberra was
experiencing drought and water restrictions
were in place. Water storage levels in Canberra
are now at 100 per cent capacity, for the
first time since 1996, but Australia's climatic
cycle means drought will eventually return
and this project will secure water for the
Gardens' living collection over the long
term.
Senator Lundy said the
new water system would help ensure the world-class
horticultural team at the Gardens would
be able to maintain their vibrant array
of native plants for generations of Australians
to enjoy.
"The Australian
National Botanic Gardens is a much loved
Canberra institution and education resource
and continues to be a crucial part of Australia's
conservation efforts," Senator Lundy
said.
"I am proud that
our Gardens are leading the field in low
water use and sustainable horticultural
practices. Other water efficiency measures
introduced in the Gardens include computerised
automatic irrigation systems."
This project has been
jointly funded from the National Water Security
Plan for Cities and Towns program, a key
component the Government's long-term Water
for the Future initiative, and the Director
of National Parks capital works program.
