The future management of our water and waterways could become a hot political topic, if the NSW Greens have their way.
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On a tour of Lake Cathie's dried up lake system on Wednesday, The Greens' member of the legislative council and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann said the party had a number of levers available to bring the matter into the public domain.
Ms Faehrmann was visiting the area after being contacted by Lake Cathie residents urging the MP to visit the area.
She was joined on her visit by local Greens member Lauren Edwards.
"Cate is trying to get some background on the lake issue and is here to look and learn," Ms Edwards said.
The MP said she was contacted by members of the Lake Cathie community and invited to have a closer look at the lake and its waterways.
"I was contacted by the local community to come and check out the dried up condition of the lake for myself," she said.
"I wanted to see if we can do anything about it at a state parliament level.
"An offer was also made to meet with the Revive Lake Cathie group. While they were unable to attend, that offer still stands to meet them and to talk about this issue.
"Coming through the area, I think there is nothing like seeing a situation first hand. It is incredibly distressing for the community (to see the lake in this condition)," she said.
Coming through the area, I think there is nothing like seeing a situation first hand. It is incredibly distressing for the community (to see the lake in this condition).
- Cate Faehrmann
"If I can take this story back to state parliament, then that is what I will do."
Ms Faehrmann says there are a number of options available to raise the lake's problems and the wider water usage issue in parliament.
"We can ask questions of the minister in estimates, for example, which are coming up in the near future.
"I also chair the planning and environment committee and in that capacity we can make enquiries into different issues.
"It is good to see these local issues around the state. The Greens will be doing a lot of enquiries over the next 12 months if not longer into waterways in NSW.
"There's not just climate change, of course, but also water management in a climate changed environment.
"We can look into that for sure," she said.
The MP said the broader issue of water management was also on the agenda, with The Greens continuing to press the state government to declare a climate emergency.
"I don't think the state government is planning for a scenario of a much reduced rainfall over the next 10, 20 or 30 years," she said.
In fact, I think the state government is still operating almost as though climate change does not exist.
- Cate Faehrmann
"In fact, I think the state government is still operating almost as though climate change does not exist.
"They are not planning for reduced rainfall.
"The Greens can enquire into the climate emergency and we've been asking for the state government to declare that (a climate emergency) for some time now.
"We are aware that there are attempts being made at the local government level too."
She said that includes looking at the modelling for water availability over the next four decades and beyond.
"And managing our water accordingly," she said. "That is not currently happening in NSW and it is probably not happening here at the local level," she said.
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