A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses water allocation sustainability in over-allocated water management areas, seeking data on sustainable levels, over-allocation amounts, timelines for recovery, and compliance with the National Water Initiative. The response provides specific allocation figures and over-allocation percentages, but offers a general statement on recovery timelines and asserts compliance with the NWI, except for the Albany Groundwater Area where a review is underway.

AnsweredQoN 3208Legislative Council
Asked
23 November 2010
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the answer to question without notice No. 2072, and I ask -
(1) What is the maximum sustainable consumptive water allocation for each water management area that is over-allocated?
(2) By how much is each area over-allocated?
(3) When will each water management area be returned to environmentally sustainable levels of extraction and by what licensing and other processes will that occur?
(4) Is Western Australia and the responsible agency, the Department of Water, compliant with the National Water Initiative objective contained in Clause 23(iv), as of 23 November 2010?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
22 February 2011
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Water
Response time
91 days
(1)   The maximum sustainable consumptive water allocation for each water management area is listed below:
Carnarvon Groundwater Area                        - 5.8 GL
Gingin Surface Water Area                - 4.8 GL
Gnangara Groundwater Area             - 41.2 GL
Gwelup Groundwater Area                - 24.3 GL
Mirrabooka Groundwater Area          - 26.6 GL
Swan Groundwater Area                    - 21.5 GL
Wanneroo Groundwater Area                        - 33.7 GL
Collie Groundwater Area                   - 6.5 GL
Albany Groundwater Area                 - 4.2 GL
(2)   Listed below are the areas that are over-allocated, please note that 100% is fully allocated.
Carnarvon Groundwater Area                        - 184%
Gingin Surface Water Area                - 104%
Gnangara Groundwater Area             - 127%
Gwelup Groundwater Area                - 109%
Mirrabooka Groundwater Area          - 106%
Swan Groundwater Area                    - 117%
Wanneroo Groundwater Area                        - 114%
Collie Groundwater Area                   - 206%
Albany Groundwater Area                 - 116%
(3)   The amount of time required to return over-allocated resources to environmentally sustainable levels of extraction varies depending on the level of over-allocation, and the values and risks associated with the resource.
(4)   The Department of Water (DoW) is meeting this commitment because the DoW has completed or is finalising allocation plans for all over-allocated management areas in Western Australia.  The exception is the Albany Groundwater Area where the DoW and the Water Corporation are currently reviewing sustainable abstraction levels.
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