The Minister acknowledges existing evaluation criteria for deep drainage impacts and ongoing studies to improve understanding and assessment. A preliminary review is expected by the end of December 2002, with improvements to be implemented via a whole-of-government approach.

AnsweredQoN 201Legislative Council
Asked
24 September 2002
Portfolio
Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

In what time frame will the Water and Rivers Commission finalise the criteria to assess the downstream impact of deep drainage? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following reply - Evaluation criteria for the downstream impacts of deep drainage are currently in place as part of the approval process. However, a number of studies were initiated recently which will lead to improvements in the understanding of the effectiveness of drainage and the downstream impact. One of these studies is the engineering evaluation initiative. The Water and Rivers Commission is currently coordinating this evaluation of engineering options, such as deep drainage. An important part of this evaluation is the assessment of safe disposal. This engineering evaluation initiative will assist with developing improved understanding on the downstream impact of deep drainage and on the appropriate assessment criteria. As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following reply - Evaluation criteria for the downstream impacts of deep drainage are currently in place as part of the approval process. However, a number of studies were initiated recently which will lead to improvements in the understanding of the effectiveness of drainage and the downstream impact. One of these studies is the engineering evaluation initiative. The Water and Rivers Commission is currently coordinating this evaluation of engineering options, such as deep drainage. An important part of this evaluation is the assessment of safe disposal. This engineering evaluation initiative will assist with developing improved understanding on the downstream impact of deep drainage and on the appropriate assessment criteria. As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following reply - Evaluation criteria for the downstream impacts of deep drainage are currently in place as part of the approval process. However, a number of studies were initiated recently which will lead to improvements in the understanding of the effectiveness of drainage and the downstream impact. One of these studies is the engineering evaluation initiative. The Water and Rivers Commission is currently coordinating this evaluation of engineering options, such as deep drainage. An important part of this evaluation is the assessment of safe disposal. This engineering evaluation initiative will assist with developing improved understanding on the downstream impact of deep drainage and on the appropriate assessment criteria. As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.
Evaluation criteria for the downstream impacts of deep drainage are currently in place as part of the approval process. However, a number of studies were initiated recently which will lead to improvements in the understanding of the effectiveness of drainage and the downstream impact. One of these studies is the engineering evaluation initiative. The Water and Rivers Commission is currently coordinating this evaluation of engineering options, such as deep drainage. An important part of this evaluation is the assessment of safe disposal. This engineering evaluation initiative will assist with developing improved understanding on the downstream impact of deep drainage and on the appropriate assessment criteria. As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.
One of these studies is the engineering evaluation initiative. The Water and Rivers Commission is currently coordinating this evaluation of engineering options, such as deep drainage. An important part of this evaluation is the assessment of safe disposal. This engineering evaluation initiative will assist with developing improved understanding on the downstream impact of deep drainage and on the appropriate assessment criteria. As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.
As the information from studies such as the engineering evaluation initiative becomes available, the criteria for assessment of the downstream impacts of deep drainage will be amended. A preliminary and independent review of safe disposal, including environmental assessment, is expected to be reported to the Water and Rivers Commission by the end of December 2002. This improvement to the evaluation criteria will be done as a whole-of-government approach, and not by a single department.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more