John Cobb (Calare, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have spoken before in this place about the need for water in the Calare electorate. It is a wonderful part of Australia, it is the oldest part of regional Australia, but it does have water issues for mining, for industry, for urban development—particularly in the west, which is two-thirds of it. There is a magnificent site called Needles near Canowindra, between the Cowra, Cabonne and Blayney shires, a site where 100,000 megalitres of water can be stored—a great catch. It would give industry and the irrigation below it greater security, but basically it would provide 50,000 megalitres of water in other places that will be able to look after industry and urban needs rather than irrigation.

A coalition government, especially one with an infrastructure and production dams policy and a determination to move Australia way beyond its recent malaise, has an opportunity here. The National Party particularly must show leadership and provide the opportunity for state water to do the necessary trials and tests to make this a reality, to show the cost benefit and to show how this can be done. It needs to happen now.