❓ Hon Dee Margetts questions the accuracy of modelling, potential impacts on groundwater dependent ecosystems, monitoring programs, and energy requirements related to the South Yarragadee aquifer abstraction project. The government provides answers indicating ongoing assessment and monitoring development.
AnsweredQoN 1289Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the extension of the investigation into the South Yarragadee aquifer -
(1) Is the modelling of the South West Yarragadee aquifer accurate enough to indicate the spatial distribution of the impacts of the proposed abstraction regime?
(2) Which of the groundwater dependent ecosystems identified might be affected by the spatial distribution of the impacts of the proposed groundwater regime?
(3) Has a monitoring program to assess the ongoing health of the groundwater dependent ecosystems, and associated groundwater levels and regimes been established?
(4) What would be the total energy requirements for the proposed water abstraction project to supply water into the Perth water supply system?
(1) Is the modelling of the South West Yarragadee aquifer accurate enough to indicate the spatial distribution of the impacts of the proposed abstraction regime?
(2) Which of the groundwater dependent ecosystems identified might be affected by the spatial distribution of the impacts of the proposed groundwater regime?
(3) Has a monitoring program to assess the ongoing health of the groundwater dependent ecosystems, and associated groundwater levels and regimes been established?
(4) What would be the total energy requirements for the proposed water abstraction project to supply water into the Perth water supply system?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
23 days
(1) The groundwater flow modelling of the Yarragadee and adjacent aquifers is being carried out specifically to simulate the likely groundwater level changes across the region due to various abstraction scenarios which include current and projected future use. (2) The identified groundwater dependent ecosystems potentially affected by groundwater abstraction from the South West Yarragadee aquifer are those along the Blackwood River, where the river traverses the outcrop of the Yarragadee Formation, and on the eastern Scott Coastal Plain, where the Yarragadee aquifer directly underlies the Superficial Aquifer. (3) As part of the Ecological Water Requirements study, a draft monitoring program has been developed for the identified groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which needs further development before implementation is considered. Prior to the implementation of a monitoring program, a significant amount of baseline data must be captured, and in some cases, verification of the groundwater dependency of the identified potential GDEs must occur. The Water and Rivers Commission is developing a more detailed monitoring program for the Yarragadee discharge area around the Blackwood River, the area of most concern in relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed borefield. (4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(2) The identified groundwater dependent ecosystems potentially affected by groundwater abstraction from the South West Yarragadee aquifer are those along the Blackwood River, where the river traverses the outcrop of the Yarragadee Formation, and on the eastern Scott Coastal Plain, where the Yarragadee aquifer directly underlies the Superficial Aquifer. (3) As part of the Ecological Water Requirements study, a draft monitoring program has been developed for the identified groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which needs further development before implementation is considered. Prior to the implementation of a monitoring program, a significant amount of baseline data must be captured, and in some cases, verification of the groundwater dependency of the identified potential GDEs must occur. The Water and Rivers Commission is developing a more detailed monitoring program for the Yarragadee discharge area around the Blackwood River, the area of most concern in relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed borefield. (4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(3) As part of the Ecological Water Requirements study, a draft monitoring program has been developed for the identified groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which needs further development before implementation is considered. Prior to the implementation of a monitoring program, a significant amount of baseline data must be captured, and in some cases, verification of the groundwater dependency of the identified potential GDEs must occur. The Water and Rivers Commission is developing a more detailed monitoring program for the Yarragadee discharge area around the Blackwood River, the area of most concern in relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed borefield. (4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(2) The identified groundwater dependent ecosystems potentially affected by groundwater abstraction from the South West Yarragadee aquifer are those along the Blackwood River, where the river traverses the outcrop of the Yarragadee Formation, and on the eastern Scott Coastal Plain, where the Yarragadee aquifer directly underlies the Superficial Aquifer. (3) As part of the Ecological Water Requirements study, a draft monitoring program has been developed for the identified groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which needs further development before implementation is considered. Prior to the implementation of a monitoring program, a significant amount of baseline data must be captured, and in some cases, verification of the groundwater dependency of the identified potential GDEs must occur. The Water and Rivers Commission is developing a more detailed monitoring program for the Yarragadee discharge area around the Blackwood River, the area of most concern in relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed borefield. (4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(3) As part of the Ecological Water Requirements study, a draft monitoring program has been developed for the identified groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which needs further development before implementation is considered. Prior to the implementation of a monitoring program, a significant amount of baseline data must be captured, and in some cases, verification of the groundwater dependency of the identified potential GDEs must occur. The Water and Rivers Commission is developing a more detailed monitoring program for the Yarragadee discharge area around the Blackwood River, the area of most concern in relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed borefield. (4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
(4) This is still to be accurately determined. However, it is approximately 5 megawatts which equates to 1 kilowatt per hour per kilolitre delivered.
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