Hon. N.F. Moore questions the Water Corporation's applications for increased underground water allocation since February 2001. The Minister for Environment and Heritage provides details on the applications, approvals, and the role of the Water and Rivers Commission.

AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Council
Asked
3 December 2001
Portfolio
Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

WATER CORPORATION, APPLICATIONS TO INCREASE UNDERGROUND WATER ALLOCATION
(1) Has the Water Corporation directly, or through its minister, applied for an increase in its underground water allocation since 10 February 2001? (2) If so - (a) how many times has an increase been sought and on what dates were the applications made; (b) which of those applications were successful in gaining extra water allowances for the Water Corporation; and (c) which of the applications failed and what were the critical reasons for those applications failing? (3) Is the minister required to approve decisions on water allocations? (4) Can the minister overrule the recommendations of the Water and Rivers Commission and allow the Water Corporation to extract more underground water? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
(2) If so - (a) how many times has an increase been sought and on what dates were the applications made; (b) which of those applications were successful in gaining extra water allowances for the Water Corporation; and (c) which of the applications failed and what were the critical reasons for those applications failing? (3) Is the minister required to approve decisions on water allocations? (4) Can the minister overrule the recommendations of the Water and Rivers Commission and allow the Water Corporation to extract more underground water? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
(b) which of those applications were successful in gaining extra water allowances for the Water Corporation; and (c) which of the applications failed and what were the critical reasons for those applications failing?
(c) which of the applications failed and what were the critical reasons for those applications failing?
(4) Can the minister overrule the recommendations of the Water and Rivers Commission and allow the Water Corporation to extract more underground water? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
(1) Yes. (2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
(2) (a) Fifteen applications have been received for various parts of the State: Derby on 28 May; Binningup on 14 May; Myalup on 14 May; Chittering Valley on 2 April; Australind on 25 May; and the Perth metropolitan area, 10 applications on 18 October. (b) Australind and two applications in the metropolitan area have been approved. (c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing. (3) No. (4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.
(c) None. The application for Chittering Valley was withdrawn and assessment of the other applications is continuing.
(4) No. Applicants aggrieved by a decision of the Water and Rivers Commission can appeal through the minister to an appeals tribunal. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has broad powers to direct the Water and Rivers Commission. However, the tribunal process has been specifically designed to deal independently with licensing matters.

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