❓ A parliamentary question addresses water deficiency assistance for farmers, specifically requesting a reduction in the distance limit for assistance eligibility and a waiver of standpipe water charges in water-deficient areas. The government declines both requests.
AnsweredQoN 1097Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
At present the water deficiency declaration policy guidelines state the Government will consider providing assistance to farmers affected by water shortages only where they do not have reasonable access to permanent water cartage points. Reasonable access is defined as being within a 40 kilometre limit of a suitable water source; namely, a standpipe. (1) When will the Government reduce the 40 kilometre limit to 20 kilometres for water-deficient wards like Datatine, Merilup and Kukerin in Dumbleyung Shire where farmers must cart water almost daily between November and March? (2) When will the Government waive the standpipe water charges or make the rebate easier to obtain, given that farmers in water-deficient areas must cart water from early summer until winter rains fill dams? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(1) When will the Government reduce the 40 kilometre limit to 20 kilometres for water-deficient wards like Datatine, Merilup and Kukerin in Dumbleyung Shire where farmers must cart water almost daily between November and March? (2) When will the Government waive the standpipe water charges or make the rebate easier to obtain, given that farmers in water-deficient areas must cart water from early summer until winter rains fill dams? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(2) When will the Government waive the standpipe water charges or make the rebate easier to obtain, given that farmers in water-deficient areas must cart water from early summer until winter rains fill dams? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(1) When will the Government reduce the 40 kilometre limit to 20 kilometres for water-deficient wards like Datatine, Merilup and Kukerin in Dumbleyung Shire where farmers must cart water almost daily between November and March? (2) When will the Government waive the standpipe water charges or make the rebate easier to obtain, given that farmers in water-deficient areas must cart water from early summer until winter rains fill dams? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(2) When will the Government waive the standpipe water charges or make the rebate easier to obtain, given that farmers in water-deficient areas must cart water from early summer until winter rains fill dams? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. For the sake of the record, it should be noted that although Hon Frank Hough asked me that question as Leader of the House representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the answer is from the Minister for Housing and Works, who is the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works. (1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(1) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that reasonable access to water is defined as 40 kilometres under the water deficiency declaration policy and that this has been successfully implemented by successive Governments since it was established in 1994. There is no intention to change the 40 kilometre limit at this time. (2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
(2) I understand that standpipes designated for this purpose are regularly read and charges levied against local authorities, which forward the costs to users. The charges are based on the information recorded on a register at the standpipe by the farmer. I am advised that the Water Corporation has no plans to change the current charging regime or to provide a concession to farmers who use these standpipes.
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