Mr. Grylls questions Premier Gallop about the environmental impact assessment of a new gas-fired power station at Kwinana, specifically regarding seawater cooling and its potential effects on Cockburn Sound. The Premier assures that the EPA assessed the matter and that all issues will be properly addressed.

AnsweredQoN 431Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 August 2005
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to cabinet’s decision to award the contract for a new gas-fired power station at Kwinana to Wambo Power Ventures Pty Ltd. (1) Is the Premier aware that eight days before he announced cabinet’s decision, an Environmental Protection Authority report stated that the proposal for an air-cooled combined-cycle gas turbine power station was amended to a seawater-cooled condenser? (2) If so, is the Premier also aware that the EPA report stated that the sea water would be drawn from Cockburn Sound, and that the increased temperature of sea water leaving the condenser could increase the ambient water temperature of Cockburn Sound? (3) Has the Premier’s government or the EPA conducted a joint assessment of the impact on Cockburn Sound of the Kwinana seawater desalination plant and the new gas-fired power station? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.
(1) Is the Premier aware that eight days before he announced cabinet’s decision, an Environmental Protection Authority report stated that the proposal for an air-cooled combined-cycle gas turbine power station was amended to a seawater-cooled condenser? (2) If so, is the Premier also aware that the EPA report stated that the sea water would be drawn from Cockburn Sound, and that the increased temperature of sea water leaving the condenser could increase the ambient water temperature of Cockburn Sound? (3) Has the Premier’s government or the EPA conducted a joint assessment of the impact on Cockburn Sound of the Kwinana seawater desalination plant and the new gas-fired power station? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.
(2) If so, is the Premier also aware that the EPA report stated that the sea water would be drawn from Cockburn Sound, and that the increased temperature of sea water leaving the condenser could increase the ambient water temperature of Cockburn Sound? (3) Has the Premier’s government or the EPA conducted a joint assessment of the impact on Cockburn Sound of the Kwinana seawater desalination plant and the new gas-fired power station? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.
(3) Has the Premier’s government or the EPA conducted a joint assessment of the impact on Cockburn Sound of the Kwinana seawater desalination plant and the new gas-fired power station? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.
(1)-(3) Of course, the gas-fired power station can be either air cooled or seawater cooled. Obviously, more efficiencies are associated with a seawater-cooled power station than with an air-cooled power station. I will deal with the location of the power station. Clearly, if it is a seawater-cooled station, it will be in Kwinana. That matter has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. It is currently subject to appeal and is going through the process. All the issues associated with Cockburn Sound will be dealt with properly, just as they were with the desalination plant.

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