Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  39
Division/Agency:	Natural Resource Management Programmes Division
Topic:	Budget Appropriations
Hansard Page ECITA:	46

Senator Webber asked:
(a)	What was departmental expenditure for the current financial year and the previous three years?
(b)	What was programme expenditure for the Community Water Grants programme for the current year and the previous three years?

Answer/s:
(a)	Departmental expenditure since 2003-04 for the Natural Resource Management Programmes Division is shown below.

2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07*	
$8.8 million	$11.2 million	$12.8 million	$9.8 million	
* Expenditure to 20 March 2007.

(b)	Programme expenditure for Community Water Grants since 2003-04 is shown in the table below. Of the $68.510 million budgeted for 2006-07, $61.510 million has been expended.

2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07*	
-	$1.0 million	$46.1 million	$61.5 million	
•	Expenditure to 15 March 2007

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  40
Division/Agency:	Natural Resource Management
Topic:	Western Australian Drainage
Hansard Page ECITA:	48

Senator Siewert asked:
(a)	What projects were supported by the relevant NRM Groups?

(b)	Were the projects supported by the State Investment Committee or the Joint Steering Committee?

(c)	Were the drainage projects, foreshadowed for consideration in Question 53 of May 2006, approved?

Answer/s:
(a)	In Question 53 of May 2006 we advised that the $4 million Engineering Evaluation Initiative, the $2.84 million Wheatbelt Drainage Evaluation project and the $174,000 stage 1 of the Yarra Yarra pilot drains were being funded under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. All three projects were supported by the relevant NRM Groups. 

(b)	The three projects, outlined in (a) above were considered by the Joint Steering Committee, supported and recommended to Ministers for funding.

(c)	In Question 53 of May 2006 we advised that the:

•	Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group sought a further $1.644 million for the subsequent stages of the Yarra Yarra pilot drains; and
•	Western Australian Channel Management Group was seeking approval to construct up to 150 km of arterial drain along the Yilgarn River.
Yarra Yarra

Stage 1 of the Yarra Yarra drains has been constructed. 

The Northern Agricultural Catchment Council was actively involved in the development of the Yarra Yarra drainage proposals, and the project was included in their 2006-08 Investment Plan. 

The Northern Agricultural Catchment Council’s Investment Plan was considered by the State Investment Committee and the Joint Steering Committee and approved by Ministers. 
Yilgarn River Catchment

The Western Australian Channel Management Group’s proposal to construct up to 150 km of arterial drain along the Yilgarn River was considered by the Joint Steering Committee, which considered it more appropriate that an engineering design plan should be undertaken to determine the feasibility of the proposal. 
 
The proposal to undertake a Yilgarn Engineering Design Plan was considered by the Joint Steering Committee and approved by Ministers, and $500,000 has been allocated from the Western Australian Strategic Reserve component of the National Action Plan funding to undertake the engineering design plan.

The Avon Catchment Council is actively involved in and supports the project.