Water Minister feels a Wright drip

[shaun]

Water Minister feels a Wright drip
KARA PHILLIPS, POLITICAL REPORTER
January 15, 2007 02:30pm

SA Water Minister Michael Wright has admitted he has breached his own government's tough new water restrictions during the worst drought in the state's history.

Mr Wright said today the sprinkler in the front yard of his Glenelg East home was left running overnight "for several hours".

"It's not clear how this occurred but the sprinkler was turned off immediately it was realised," Mr Wright said in a statement.

It is understood a neighbour rang and reported the incident to SA Water, which will now issue a warning to the Minister.

SA Water would not confirm or deny it had issued a warning. A spokeswoman said the names and addresses of anyone issued a warning or expiation notice were confidential under the state's privacy laws.

Mr Wright said he would donate the equivalent of the SA Water expiation fee to a local charity and stressed water conservation had always been "a priority in my household".

"With level three water restrictions now in place, it is important that everyone, including me, pays attention to their watering habits and actively participates in both the letter and the spirit of the current restrictions,'` Mr Wright said.

He went on to warn that any blatant or deliberate breaches should be reported to the authorities, but said he would "encourage neighbours who observe any inadvertent or accidental breaches to raise them directly with their neighbour".

lol

[Algernon]

Call for minister in sprinkler blunder to go

January 16, 2007 09:08am
Article from: AAP

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SOUTH Australia's Liberal Opposition has called for Water Minister Michael Wright to resign or be sacked after he breached water restrictions.

Mr Wright was dobbed in by a neighbour after letting a sprinkler run on his garden on Sunday night and Monday morning for several hours beyond the time allowed for watering under SA's level three restrictions.

The neighbour, David Smith, said he believed everyone should comply with water regulations, even government ministers.

Opposition Leader Iain Evans said Mr Wright, the minister responsible for policing the water regulations, had lost credibility on water conservation issues over the incident.

SA Water is understood to have issued a warning notice to the minister but would not confirm that because of privacy regulations.

Mr Wright said it was not clear why the sprinkler had been left on but it had been turned off as soon as the error was realised.

He also pledged to donate the equivalent of a fine for incorrect water use to a local charity.

But Mr Evans said the garden sprinkler blunder had undermined the Government's water message and Mr Wright should be relieved of his water portfolio.

"Mr Wright has no choice but to step aside," the opposition leader said.

"If he doesn't resign from his water portfolio, the premier has to sack him."





I want around the clock surveillance of Ian Evans' (who's that?) garden.

[Howie]

HA! Good to see pollies are also held accountable for the policies they create.

[julikaee]

I think even with the level 3 water restrictions in place, it's not strict enough. I mean you get 2 warnings before you're even fined! It's ridiculous. People don't even stop to really consider just how severe the situation is. It really annoys me.

[shaun]

People don't even stop to really consider just how severe the situation is. It really annoys me.

Allot of people i know have