Question on Notice regarding cost recovery for water extraction from the Gnangara Mound and potential user-pays charges for breaches of water allocation licenses. The Minister acknowledges the issue and indicates upcoming legislation will address it.

AnsweredQoN 728Legislative Council
Asked
22 September 2010
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

GNANGARA MOUND — WATER EXTRACTION
I refer to the answer given on 15 September 2010 to question on notice 2651 regarding the monitoring of private licensed extraction of water from the Gnangara mound. (1) Given the Gnangara mound metering project has cost $8.3 million since 2005, what cost recovery action has the Department of Water identified for those licensed users who extract more water than they are licensed for? (2) What regime of user-pays water resource management and planning charges has the minister considered to bring these flagrant breaches of water allocation licences back into line? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member of some notice of this question. (1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
(1) Given the Gnangara mound metering project has cost $8.3 million since 2005, what cost recovery action has the Department of Water identified for those licensed users who extract more water than they are licensed for? (2) What regime of user-pays water resource management and planning charges has the minister considered to bring these flagrant breaches of water allocation licences back into line? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member of some notice of this question. (1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
(2) What regime of user-pays water resource management and planning charges has the minister considered to bring these flagrant breaches of water allocation licences back into line? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member of some notice of this question. (1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member of some notice of this question. (1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
I thank the honourable member of some notice of this question. (1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
(1) The government is committed to ensuring that a responsible approach to water resource management is in place, balancing the need for accurate information with financial viability. Given this, it is pleasing that approximately 1 250 state-owned meters have been installed voluntarily on licensed bores. The current legislative framework does not allow the Department of Water to recover costs other than via fines, which are often applied to those who are proven to have overdrawn their allocation. However, the minister is careful not to develop an overly punitive culture that could, in effect, discourage metering and encourage some individuals to develop hidden unmetered bores. (2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.
(2) Water resource management legislation will be introduced into Parliament in the near future. Any changes to the current regime will be included in the proposed legislation.

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