Inquiry into
the extent and economic impact of salinity
Media release - Public Hearing & Site Inspection, Wagga Wagga, Friday, 10 February 2006
Salinity is one of Australia 's major environmental challenges. Mobilised salt stores cause damage to roads, buildings and vegetation in urban settings as well as vast tracts of rural land.
On Friday 10 February the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee will hold a public hearing in Wagga Wagga. This will be followed by an urban salinity site tour hosted by the Wagga Wagga City Council.
Senator Andrew Bartlett, the Committee's Chair, said:
During the course of the inquiry the Committee has heard a lot about the impacts of salinity on civic infrastructure and the costs of this to governments and communities. Houses, underground pipes, parks, roads – they can all be damaged by salinity.
The Committee welcomes the opportunity to visit WaggaWagga – one of the worst-affected towns in NSW – and learn about the impacts of salinity on urban communities. Wagga Wagga has adopted a proactive approach to addressing urban salinity. The hearing and site tour will provide insight into the ways that communities can work together to help tackle this environmental problem.
The Committee will hear from local government representatives, catchment management authorities, and community members with an active involvement in urban salinity management at Friday's hearing.
Details of the hearing program are overleaf. The public and the media are welcome to observe the proceedings.
Terms of reference and copies of submissions to the inquiry are available from the Committee’s website or by telephoning the ECITA Committee Secretariat.
9 February 2006
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment, Communications and the Arts
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
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