Premier Mike Rann and Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald launched the plan, titled “Water for Good”, this week in Adelaide before 200 industry, government and community representatives.

The plan outlines more than 90 strategies to secure water supplies with more than 60 new actions such as: substantially increasing stormwater capture and reuse across South Australia, with a target to recycle up to 75 billion litres a year in the long term; new rebates for water saving devices to further encourage water efficiency; a state-wide desalination policy to guide future plant proposals; appointing an independent regulator to oversee service standards and pricing for monopoly water and wastewater suppliers while retaining government ownership of water infrastructure; and introducing legislation to foster a competitive water industry and allowing third-party access to government water infrastructure.

Third-party water suppliers, such as the proposal for a desalination plant at Penong using solar power, could be allowed to use SA Water pipelines.

Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said the “Water for Good” plan to secure South Australian water makes no mention of the critical state of Eyre Peninsula's groundwater supplies.

There is no concrete proposal to provide new water for household use let alone needs for Eyre Peninsula’s mining industry, she said.

“The mining industry could provide the new jobs and royalties that our state desperately needs if our economic situation is to be improved from languishing second to last (only ahead of Tasmania) compared with the other states,” Mrs Penfold said.

She said she welcomed the fact that the “Water for Good” plan recognised the need for third party access to SA Water infrastructure. However, while the Liberal Party policy released recently provided a clear model, the Government’s plan lacks urgency and detail.