Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 27
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Is there a continued commitment to the CCI program?

Answer/s:
Yes, during the life of the Natural Heritage Trust.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 28
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked: 
Are there any new hotspots proposed in the 06-07 and 07-08 CCI budgets?

Answer/s:
The CCI budget for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is yet to be determined.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 29
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Does the CCI develop and implement WQIPs, and does the initial development phase cover three financial years?

Answer/s:
Yes, the CCI is about developing and implementing WQIPs. The development, or interim phase, of the CCI is completed when the WQIP is finalised and an implementation strategy is developed for that WQIP. The time taken will vary between hotspots.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 30
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Given experiences to date, how will any new hotspot started in 06-07, be completed during 07-08?

Answer/s:
No decisions have been taken to commence CCI projects in new hotspots in 2006-07.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 31
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Is Port Phillip Bay and Western Port CCI funded over 04-06? When will these projects commence? When will they conclude? How will the Department reconcile the three financial year project period with the remaining 16-month period?

Answer/s:
Yes. These projects are planned to commence during 2004-05. They will conclude once the water quality improvement plans for Port Phillip Bay and Western Port are accredited. The time taken to complete water quality improvement plans varies between hotspots.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 32
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Other than in the Great Barrier Reef catchment or Port Phillip Bay/Western Port, will any new CCI hotspots commence before 06-07?

Answer/s:
No decisions have been taken to commence new hotspots other than in the Great Barrier Reef catchment or Port Phillip Bay/Western Port before 2006-07.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 33
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Why is there no hotspot planned or budgeted for in NSW?

Answer/s:
While preliminary discussions between the Australian Government and NSW officials have been held, no decisions have yet been taken in relation to commencing CCI projects in NSW.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 34
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
When will the CCI for Gippsland Lakes commence, as promised in the South East Region Marine Plan?

Answer/s:
No decisions have been taken on the commencement of CCI for Gippsland Lakes.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 35
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked:
Why was Derwent Estuary funding so low?

Answer/s:
CCI Funding for the Derwent Estuary is sufficient to allow for the completion of a Water Quality Improvement Plan.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 36
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
Which specific election commitments will be funded under the Australian Water Fund?  Please provide details of the 10 highest commitments which will be funded, including the amounts committed and the years it will be funded?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to the Australian Water Fund should be directed to the National Water Commission.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 37
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
Please provide details as to how the 10 projects in (b) comply with the objectives of the NWI?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to the Australian Water Fund should be directed to the National Water Commission.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 38
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
Will projects funded by the Commission ensure environmental flows and water quality in stressed systems are improved on a sustainable basis?  What measures will the Government take to secure these investments from subsequent poor planning and/or decision-making by other jurisdictions?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to the Australian Water Fund should be directed to the National Water Commission.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 39
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
How will investments under the Australian Water Fund complement investments under the NAP and NHT?  For example, how do Communities Program projects like adopting a local creek to clean it up, and creek and riverbank repair complement similar projects funded under for example the NHT’s Envirofund?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards programmes of the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to these programmes of the Australian Water Fund would be most appropriately directed to the National Water Commission.

The community water grants will fund a wide range of projects in the areas of water use efficiency, reuse and recycling and river and groundwater health. Water use efficiency, and reuse and recycling are not a focus for funding under NAP and the NHT extension.

There will be increased opportunity for communities to apply for funding to adopt a local creek or undertake riverbank repair projects, as these would be eligible for Envirofund or community water grants.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 40
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
Given the Commission is yet to establish program guidelines, selection/assessment criteria/processes, call for projects or establish financial agreements, what are the timelines for these processes to July?  What risk management planning has been undertaken to ensure these occur without prejudicing the programs objectives, impact on matters of national environmental significance, or getting the barrel before the pork?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to the Australian Water Fund should be directed to the National Water Commission.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 41
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
How does pursuing “investor confidence and economic efficiency” in water use necessarily lead to protecting the resource?  How do these aims apply to water use in over-allocated resources, to prolonged drought or lower than average rainfall conditions or where water quality is declining?  Will the pursuit of investor confidence and economic efficiency objectives - in the face of climatic change and variability, and resource condition uncertainty - promote unrealistic expectations?

Answer/s:
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has responsibility for water policy. Questions relating to water policy should be directed to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 42
Output:  	1.3 Coasts
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic: 	Coastal Catchments Initiative
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Webber asked: In relation to implementation funding via the Regional Component, will there be dedicated 06-08 implementation funds? If funding through regional groups, how will groups give WQIP implementation sufficient priority – given low funding levels and the many local pressures.

Answer/s: 
The CCI Budget for 2006-08 is yet to be determined.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 44
Output:  	1.7 Inland Waters
Division/Agency:	Land, Water & Coasts Division
Topic: 	National Water Commission and Australian Water Fund
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Webber asked:
Will the NWC ensure that funded projects contribute to achievement of NRM targets and, in this context, represent value for money?

Answer/s:
The National Water Commission will administer the Australian Water Fund. Questions relating to the Australian Water Fund should be directed to the National Water Commission.