J U L ;  Ã¢ÂÂ  PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development 63/79

1979-80 BUDGET - NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES -  WATER, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE

MANAGEMENT ’

The Minister for National Development,  the Hon. Kevin  Newman, announced tonight details of allocations in" the Budget  for .

'  .  National Water Program Ã¢ÂÂ   .

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  .  Regional Development Program Ã¢ÂÂ   .  .  ' .  Radioactive Waste Management .

National Mr Newman said the allocation for the National

Water Water Resources Program had been increased from Program '  $20m. to $25m. '  Â·  Â·  '  .  '

Firm commitments carrying over into 1979-80'  total $6.2m. They include:-

salinity control and drainage

projects in the Murray Valley. - $2.6m

River Murray Commission, mainly  for Dartmouth Dam - $1.5m

N.S.W. coastal rivers flood  mitigation program - $1 ,m

Mt Isa Water Board - $0.25m

Water Research - $0.415m

Mr Newman said he would be announcing the

allocation of the remaining $18.8m. later in the  Budget Sittings. ’

2

Regional Development

Program

Radioactive Waste Management

An amount of $10.47m. is provided in the Budget-

for the Commonwealth Regional Development Program.

This will allow the same level of funding to be

provided for the Program this year as in 1978-79.

'  Mr Newman said the Program contributes to the

Government’s regional policy aims by encouraging  non-metropolitan economic and population growth  and by reducing regional economic and social

disparities. -

From the Program's inception in October 1977 to

30 June 1979, $16.1m. has been provided for  39 projects in all States with a total value of  $45m. Over 1800 direct full time employment

opportunities have been generated. .

Mr Newman said that the Budget also provided  $0.225m.Â· for a program of rehabilitation at the  former atomic weapons test range a.t Maralinga in  South Australia. The program will be undertaken

in accordance with the recommendations in the  report of the Australian Ionising Radiation  Advisory Council (AIRAC) tabled in Parliament

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  on 30 May 1979. '  '

The work was part of a program of rehabilitation  of the three former nuclear test sites in  Australia. .  Rehabilitation work had been underÂ­ taken on the Monte Bello Islands off Western

Australia earlier this year and the Government  expects to receive advice from AIRAC later this  year on measures required in the area of Emu

Field in South Australia.

Canberra,

21 August 1979

