State govt commits to helping Scotdesco through water crisis

The water crisis issue was flagged with premier Steven Marshall in March this year, with the state government announcing on Wednesday that it would supply water to the town for the next six months.

"The Government will provide funding to the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community to ensure it does not run out of water during summer," a state government spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said government officer had visited the community to assess longer term options to provide a reliable supply.

"In the meantime the government will ensure the community has an adequate supply of water during the coming summer months," they said.

The area, which has a population of 50, relies entirely on rainfall for its water supply, has an average yearly rainfall of 300 millimetres, but so far in 2019, has received just 55mm, with water supplies running "bone dry" earlier this month.

Once running 6000 sheep, just 200 breeders remain, with the community having no choice but to destock heavily due to the drought.

High costs of carting water to the town - $1430 for emergency tankers of water - were not economically feasible, with the Adelaide Crows Children's Foundation stepping in in early November to fund the transport of a water tanker to the town.

But Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said it was disappointing that the government did not step in beforehand.

"I'd like to thank the Adelaide Football Club for stepping up to the plate and providing water to a community in need, but it really shouldn't be the responsibility of a footy club to step in and provide emergency water to a town of 50 people, that's the job of our government, that's a principle and core responsibility," he said.

"The fact that they have known about it since March, and done nothing until the absolute eleventh hour, I think speaks volumes about a premier who doesn't really have his eye on the ball."

He said a long-term approach to ensure water security for the community was vital.

"We know there is a long-term drought, we know drought conditions have affected the west coast for a number of months now, and we can't just guarantee that it's going to rain, which is why there needs to be a long term sustainable plan for the Scotdesco community," he said.

The expensive costs of carting water are due to Scotdesco lying outside the boundary able to qualify for subsidised $300 tankers.

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The town is just 10 kilometres outside the current boundary for subsidised water cartage rates, and Scotdesco chief executive officer Robert Larking said he would like to see the boundary extended.

"The easiest solution is to put Scotdesco in the subsidy zone, which is only an extra 10 kilometres, I really don't see the problem with that," he said.

"We just want to be treated like every other community.

"The last few months have been really stressful, it's been a hard slog, someone could have made a decision by now."