❓ Dr. Nahan questions the Minister for Water about the government's actions to ensure Perth's water security given recent dry winters. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's investments in desalination, groundwater replenishment, and deeper aquifers, emphasizing the success of the 'Water Forever' plan.
AnsweredQoN 699Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
WATER SUPPLY SECURITY
699. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for Water:
Over the term of the Liberal–National government
Perth has experienced two of its driest winters on record. With this in mind, could
the minister please advise the house —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
It is a simple message, members: I do not need to hear from another member,
member for Victoria Park and member for Mandurah, while another person is being
asked a question.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Could the minister please advise the house what the government has done to
ensure Perth's water security into the future?
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I see you are anxious to join the growing list. I
formally call you to order for the first time today.
WATER SUPPLY SECURITY
699. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for Water:
Over the term of the Liberal–National government
Perth has experienced two of its driest winters on record. With this in mind, could
the minister please advise the house —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
It is a simple message, members: I do not need to hear from another member,
member for Victoria Park and member for Mandurah, while another person is being
asked a question.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Could the minister please advise the house what the government has done to
ensure Perth's water security into the future?
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I see you are anxious to join the growing list. I
formally call you to order for the first time today.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Riverton for a very good question.
Indeed, the people of Western Australia expect a government in power to deliver
water security, and that is what we have done. They do not expect any excuses;
they expect us to plan and deliver. Last November, I launched the ''Water
Forever: Whatever the weather'' plan for the next decade of water
security for Western Australia. It is a fully funded 10-year plan to
drought-proof Western Australia. It has three major components—new,
deeper aquifers; groundwater replenishment; and, of course, expansion of
desalination.
Water security is a good-news story for our government. We
have not been sitting on our hands; we have planned and delivered. In November
2008 we signed the alliance partner for the construction of the southern
seawater desalination plant. That was delivered ahead of time and on budget. It
was opened in September last year at a cost of $955 million. Just a month prior
to that, the Premier and I announced the decision to extend the desalination
plant and approved the construction of stage 2. Next month, when it is
completed, about 50 per cent of our total water supply will be delivered by
climate-independent water through desalination. Despite getting only about 13 gigalitres
run-off into our dams in 2010, and this year getting only 27 gigalitres into
our dams, we will not have any problems with water over summer. We will
continue the two-day sprinkler bans, but we will not have problems with
delivering water.
Looking to the future, we are investing $500 million in the
next three or four years to protect our groundwater system so that we can draw
less water from the Gnangara mound. It will actually transfer extraction from
the superficial aquifers to the deeper Leederville and Yarragadee
aquifers. If our water replacement trial at Beenyup is successful, we will look
at delivering our future growth supply of water through groundwater
replenishment. We invested $2.4 million this budget to make sure we are ready
to deliver that if the trial is successful.
I conclude
with a graph that explains how well we have managed to plan and deliver.
Planning and delivery is important. Members can see that in the last three
years we have had very little run-off. This bar I point to is the 13 gigalitres
and that one is the 27 gigalitres. We had about 80 gigalitres last year.
Normally we get 100 gigalitres, so we actually have had a very bad lot of
run-off. That red line going up is the desalination. But the very good news for
the environment—wearing my environmental hat—is the draw on the
Gnangara mound. Despite the fact that we have had less run-off into our dams,
this government has been able to deliver and that is why I have had no
questions from the opposition. There was less draw on the Gnangara mound. This
is a great news story. It is a good-news story for the water security of
Western Australia and a good-news story for the environment, because there is
less extraction on the Gnangara mound.
Indeed, the people of Western Australia expect a government in power to deliver
water security, and that is what we have done. They do not expect any excuses;
they expect us to plan and deliver. Last November, I launched the ''Water
Forever: Whatever the weather'' plan for the next decade of water
security for Western Australia. It is a fully funded 10-year plan to
drought-proof Western Australia. It has three major components—new,
deeper aquifers; groundwater replenishment; and, of course, expansion of
desalination.
Water security is a good-news story for our government. We
have not been sitting on our hands; we have planned and delivered. In November
2008 we signed the alliance partner for the construction of the southern
seawater desalination plant. That was delivered ahead of time and on budget. It
was opened in September last year at a cost of $955 million. Just a month prior
to that, the Premier and I announced the decision to extend the desalination
plant and approved the construction of stage 2. Next month, when it is
completed, about 50 per cent of our total water supply will be delivered by
climate-independent water through desalination. Despite getting only about 13 gigalitres
run-off into our dams in 2010, and this year getting only 27 gigalitres into
our dams, we will not have any problems with water over summer. We will
continue the two-day sprinkler bans, but we will not have problems with
delivering water.
Looking to the future, we are investing $500 million in the
next three or four years to protect our groundwater system so that we can draw
less water from the Gnangara mound. It will actually transfer extraction from
the superficial aquifers to the deeper Leederville and Yarragadee
aquifers. If our water replacement trial at Beenyup is successful, we will look
at delivering our future growth supply of water through groundwater
replenishment. We invested $2.4 million this budget to make sure we are ready
to deliver that if the trial is successful.
I conclude
with a graph that explains how well we have managed to plan and deliver.
Planning and delivery is important. Members can see that in the last three
years we have had very little run-off. This bar I point to is the 13 gigalitres
and that one is the 27 gigalitres. We had about 80 gigalitres last year.
Normally we get 100 gigalitres, so we actually have had a very bad lot of
run-off. That red line going up is the desalination. But the very good news for
the environment—wearing my environmental hat—is the draw on the
Gnangara mound. Despite the fact that we have had less run-off into our dams,
this government has been able to deliver and that is why I have had no
questions from the opposition. There was less draw on the Gnangara mound. This
is a great news story. It is a good-news story for the water security of
Western Australia and a good-news story for the environment, because there is
less extraction on the Gnangara mound.
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