❓ Hon Anthony Spagnolo asks about groundwater extraction monitoring and licensing in the Perth Hills, specifically near Pickering Brook. The Minister responds detailing monitoring practices, licence numbers, and compliance audits.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to groundwater extraction on rural properties in the Perth Hills, and I ask: (a) what monitoring is currently undertaken by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) to ensure compliance with groundwater abstraction licences in the Darling Range; (b) how many active licences to take water exist within a 10 kilometre radius of Pickering Brook; and (c) how many compliance inspections were conducted by DWER in this area in the past three years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 December 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water
Response time
8 days
(a) Most of the Perth Hills region of the Darling Range lies outside of groundwater areas proclaimed under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. I table a map showing the extent of proclaimed groundwater areas in this region [tabled paper no. LC855-1b Map].
Licences are not required to take water from non-artesian wells in non-proclaimed areas. The Department’s compliance monitoring focusses on the licensed take of water.
(b) There are 85 active licences to take water within a 10-kilometre radius of the suburb of Pickering Brook. Of these, 25 are licences to take surface water. The 60 groundwater licences are all located in the proclaimed areas shown in the tabled map.
(c) Within the same 10-kilometre radius of Pickering Brook, the Department has completed 40 desktop compliance audits in the past three years.
Licences are not required to take water from non-artesian wells in non-proclaimed areas. The Department’s compliance monitoring focusses on the licensed take of water.
(b) There are 85 active licences to take water within a 10-kilometre radius of the suburb of Pickering Brook. Of these, 25 are licences to take surface water. The 60 groundwater licences are all located in the proclaimed areas shown in the tabled map.
(c) Within the same 10-kilometre radius of Pickering Brook, the Department has completed 40 desktop compliance audits in the past three years.
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