❓ Mr. Norberger asks about water security commitments in the state budget. The Minister outlines $3.5 billion in funding for various water infrastructure projects across WA, including groundwater replenishment, treatment plant upgrades, and wastewater treatment.
AnsweredQoN 429Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER
SUPPLY
429. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Water:
Could the minister outline for the house the commitments
contained in the recent state budget to ensure that the people of Western
Australia continue to have access to —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Member for Joondalup, start again, please.
Mr
J. NORBERGER : Could the minister outline for the house the commitments
contained within the recent state budget to ensure that the people of Western
Australia continue to have access to a safe and secure water supply?
SUPPLY
429. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Water:
Could the minister outline for the house the commitments
contained in the recent state budget to ensure that the people of Western
Australia continue to have access to —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Member for Joondalup, start again, please.
Mr
J. NORBERGER : Could the minister outline for the house the commitments
contained within the recent state budget to ensure that the people of Western
Australia continue to have access to a safe and secure water supply?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Joondalup for his question and his
strong support for ensuring that Western Australia has a secure and safe water
supply. We all know that water is absolutely important to households,
businesses, industry and, indeed, the economy in Western Australia.
In
the state budget there is $3.5 billion of funding to secure water supply for
Western Australia. We are making a significant investment in capital
infrastructure to ensure that this state and the Liberal–National government
does not have its foot on the hose of the progress of Western Australia. I will
go through some of the initiatives that are being rolled out. Members would be
aware that I recently announced the groundwater replenishment trial. An amount
of $110 million will roll out in stage 1 of that to bring on another seven
gigalitres of water, which is climate-independent and will significantly help
to droughtproof Perth. The Mundaring treatment plant is treating water for 100 000
people in the goldfields scheme. That is a public–private partnership
and a $270 million project.
Recently, I went down to the East Rockingham wastewater
treatment plant, which I assume is in the Leader of the Opposition's
electorate. Another $160 million is coming on to support that project, which
will help development in the Baldivis region. I can already see the smile on
the face of the Leader of the Opposition. Significant investments in wastewater
treatment in those areas are supported by the Liberal–National
government. Up in the Pilbara, the electorate of my leader and Minister for
Regional Development, $118 million has been allocated to continue the work on
the relocation of the Port Hedland wastewater treatment plant to South Hedland.
The government will also invest $56 million in that project in 2013–14.
In the east Pilbara, an additional $47 million will be spent on upgrading the
east Pilbara water supply scheme. In the great southern—a little bit of
the great southern is in my electorate—$60 million will go to upgrading
Denmark's —
Mr
P.B. Watson : You opened that last year, didn't you?
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
announced that work is happening down there, but the point is that this state
budget has funding to deal with it. The member for Albany would recognise that
decisions are being made by those on this side of the house to make significant
investments in core infrastructure to support Western Australia. That will
support the lower great southern water supply scheme in the electorate of my
colleague the member for Wagin. Of course, $70 million in 2013–14 will
be spent in the south west. One of those projects, the Bridgetown water supply
scheme, is in my electorate. An amount of $25 million will go towards infill
sewerage.
It goes without saying that we are making significant investments
in key infrastructure for the state. We are ensuring that in a dry state and a
dry part of the world, we do not run out of water and we can support the growth
of Western Australia.
strong support for ensuring that Western Australia has a secure and safe water
supply. We all know that water is absolutely important to households,
businesses, industry and, indeed, the economy in Western Australia.
In
the state budget there is $3.5 billion of funding to secure water supply for
Western Australia. We are making a significant investment in capital
infrastructure to ensure that this state and the Liberal–National government
does not have its foot on the hose of the progress of Western Australia. I will
go through some of the initiatives that are being rolled out. Members would be
aware that I recently announced the groundwater replenishment trial. An amount
of $110 million will roll out in stage 1 of that to bring on another seven
gigalitres of water, which is climate-independent and will significantly help
to droughtproof Perth. The Mundaring treatment plant is treating water for 100 000
people in the goldfields scheme. That is a public–private partnership
and a $270 million project.
Recently, I went down to the East Rockingham wastewater
treatment plant, which I assume is in the Leader of the Opposition's
electorate. Another $160 million is coming on to support that project, which
will help development in the Baldivis region. I can already see the smile on
the face of the Leader of the Opposition. Significant investments in wastewater
treatment in those areas are supported by the Liberal–National
government. Up in the Pilbara, the electorate of my leader and Minister for
Regional Development, $118 million has been allocated to continue the work on
the relocation of the Port Hedland wastewater treatment plant to South Hedland.
The government will also invest $56 million in that project in 2013–14.
In the east Pilbara, an additional $47 million will be spent on upgrading the
east Pilbara water supply scheme. In the great southern—a little bit of
the great southern is in my electorate—$60 million will go to upgrading
Denmark's —
Mr
P.B. Watson : You opened that last year, didn't you?
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
announced that work is happening down there, but the point is that this state
budget has funding to deal with it. The member for Albany would recognise that
decisions are being made by those on this side of the house to make significant
investments in core infrastructure to support Western Australia. That will
support the lower great southern water supply scheme in the electorate of my
colleague the member for Wagin. Of course, $70 million in 2013–14 will
be spent in the south west. One of those projects, the Bridgetown water supply
scheme, is in my electorate. An amount of $25 million will go towards infill
sewerage.
It goes without saying that we are making significant investments
in key infrastructure for the state. We are ensuring that in a dry state and a
dry part of the world, we do not run out of water and we can support the growth
of Western Australia.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.