❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Narrogin oil mallee bioenergy demonstration plant, its funding, testing completion, farmer participation, expansion plans, and the scaling up of the oil mallee industry. The Minister's response outlines actions taken and future plans contingent on the plant's economic viability.
AnsweredQoN 191Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NARROGIN OIL MALLEE FACILITY
I refer to the Narrogin oil mallee bioenergy demonstration plant and question without notice 106. (1) What steps have been taken by the minister to ensure that the Narrogin oil mallee facility will - (a) complete the full range of tests before it is mothballed; and (b) be fully funded to complete those tests? (2) How many farmers are participating in the oil mallee program? (3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer to the Narrogin oil mallee bioenergy demonstration plant and question without notice 106. (1) What steps have been taken by the minister to ensure that the Narrogin oil mallee facility will - (a) complete the full range of tests before it is mothballed; and (b) be fully funded to complete those tests? (2) How many farmers are participating in the oil mallee program? (3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(1) What steps have been taken by the minister to ensure that the Narrogin oil mallee facility will - (a) complete the full range of tests before it is mothballed; and (b) be fully funded to complete those tests? (2) How many farmers are participating in the oil mallee program? (3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(b) be fully funded to complete those tests?
(3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(1) What steps have been taken by the minister to ensure that the Narrogin oil mallee facility will - (a) complete the full range of tests before it is mothballed; and (b) be fully funded to complete those tests? (2) How many farmers are participating in the oil mallee program? (3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(b) be fully funded to complete those tests?
(3) What plans are in place to expand the plantings, given the multiple agronomic and salinity control benefits of the program? (4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(4) What steps are being taken by the minister to ensure an orderly scaling up of the oil mallee industry sector? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
I thought I had seen some notice of a question that was very similar to that asked by Hon Paul Llewellyn. I thought the member’s question was one for which no notice had been given, but I do have the answer to the question. It certainly sounded familiar. Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon Paul Llewellyn : I thought you would be able to answer that on the run. Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE : I was about to. I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for some notice of the question. (1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(1) I have written to the Minister for Energy seeking assurances that the Narrogin integrated wood-processing plant will proceed to full commissioning to achieve conclusive results. I have also spoken at some length with the Minister for Energy about that point. Funding of $3 million was approved from the national action plan for salinity and water quality strategic reserve for the trial, and that funding brought the total funding to an amount approaching $20 million for the whole program. Western Power has advised that it is confident that the necessary tests will be completed within the existing budget. Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon Paul Llewellyn : That is not what it told me. Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
Hon KIM CHANCE : No? That is what it told the government. (2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(2) Although there is no official register of the number of farmers growing oil mallees, it is estimated that more than 1 000 farmers have planted some oil mallees. The majority of the plantings were done on the possibility that oil mallees would eventually be an economic crop. (3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(3) Expansion of the industry is highly dependent on the Narrogin plant proving the economic viability of oil mallees as a crop. However, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity and the national Joint Venture Agroforestry program are undertaking research aimed at improving the oil mallee, developing other products from it and integrating the trees into the Western Australian farming system. (4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
(4) Scaling up of the oil mallee industry will depend on the economic analysis from the Narrogin plant and implementation of positive results from the research activity.
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