❓ The Minister for Water Resources details a 12-year research project in the Wungong catchment area aimed at increasing water supply to Perth dams by thinning regrowth forests, highlighting environmental and economic benefits and contrasting it with the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 81Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister please inform the house about the catchment research project being initiated in the Wungong catchment area? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
I thank the member for the question. Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
I thank the member for the question. Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
Today, I was very pleased to be involved in the launch of a six-week public review period for a project that will not only pave the way for eventually delivering an extra 40 gigalitres of water into Perth dams every year, but also deliver significant environmental benefits. The Wungong catchment environmental water management project is a 12-year research initiative being conducted by the Water Corporation. This project is expected to recover an average of four to six billion litres of additional run-off annually at a cost of only 25c per gigalitre. Because we have the dam and the infrastructure in place, any additional inflow is delivered at a small cost. There is a big advantage in being able to do that. As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
As members are probably aware, that area of the hills has been logged over many years. The area around Wungong was logged possibly before the 1920s. Therefore, it is a regrowth area. Some of it is mining area and, therefore, there has been revegetation. A lot of that growth is dense and it is not likely to turn into a mature native forest for a long time unless a thinning operation is engaged in. The review is to ensure that the state will get not only the environmental benefits of a more mature native forest, but also increased stream flow and therefore additional water into the integrated water supply. This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
This is a further example of a novel and new idea that has been put in place by the Gallop government. In eight years in government, the Liberals talked about it but did absolutely nothing. This government has been working on this project for three years to make sure it is a goer and has committed the money to it. It will be another source that will enhance the security of supply to this state’s water services. With the desalination plant, the recycling at Kwinana and the new ground water and water trading, the Gallop government is ensuring a more secure water supply for the people of Perth and the south west of Western Australia.
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