❓ Mr. Catania asks about state government efforts in the West Kimberley following the federal government's White Paper on Northern Australia. The Minister outlines existing state programs and expresses eagerness to partner with the Commonwealth on water investigations.
AnsweredQoN 537Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
''OUR NORTH, OUR FUTURE: WHITE PAPER ON
DEVELOPING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA''
537. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Water:
In the ''Our North,
Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia'' released by
the federal government last week, it is proposed to provide support for water
investigations in the West Kimberley. Can the minister please provide an update
on how the state government is also working to develop this area?
DEVELOPING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA''
537. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Water:
In the ''Our North,
Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia'' released by
the federal government last week, it is proposed to provide support for water
investigations in the West Kimberley. Can the minister please provide an update
on how the state government is also working to develop this area?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. As a state government we have doing a great amount of work
with the commonwealth to make sure it is aware of the programs running here in
Western Australia to expand irrigated agriculture and our water investigations.
With the announcement of the northern Australia white paper we are, as a state
government, very keen to partner with the federal government in its water
investigations, as it has stated in the paper, and I will be writing to the
commonwealth on this matter.
Our vision for a
diversified economy in the north of the state is taking a step forward with
some of the projects we have under the Water for Food program. We have $6.1 million
invested in a drilling and water investigation program in the Fitzroy Valley
and we are about to start groundwater drilling in that space. That is part of
the broader $40 million royalties for regions Water for Food program and is
about accelerating groundwater investigations right across the state, whether
in the north or south. We are doing work with growers in Manjimup and the
member behind me is chairing a committee in the central Midlands. Because we
are talking about the northern Australia white paper, we have a drilling
company working in Fitzroy Crossing with a number of Aboriginal communities on
the lands on the outskirts of Fitzroy Crossing and we are attempting to find
sufficient and sustainable groundwater for a potential irrigated agriculture
project. We will put in place monitoring bores and conduct a science-based
investigation. We understand that there is quite a deal of interest in the
Fitzroy Valley and the Fitzroy River. Everything that we do is done with the
best science available and some of the best scientists we have on hand in the
Department of Water. We expect that the aerial electromagnetic surveys will
commence in August and include data collection for the Derby area, the May and
Meda Rivers, the Willare–Lower Fitzroy River area, Fitzroy Crossing and
the Oscar Ranges. That will give us a much better understanding of the West
Kimberley hydrogeology.
As I said, it is really exciting. It is part of the broader
project of Water for Food. We look forward to partnering with the commonwealth
government to try to expand and fast track this because we know that fantastic
opportunities are on our doorstep if we can have these sustainable projects
that diversify that part of our state.
for the question. As a state government we have doing a great amount of work
with the commonwealth to make sure it is aware of the programs running here in
Western Australia to expand irrigated agriculture and our water investigations.
With the announcement of the northern Australia white paper we are, as a state
government, very keen to partner with the federal government in its water
investigations, as it has stated in the paper, and I will be writing to the
commonwealth on this matter.
Our vision for a
diversified economy in the north of the state is taking a step forward with
some of the projects we have under the Water for Food program. We have $6.1 million
invested in a drilling and water investigation program in the Fitzroy Valley
and we are about to start groundwater drilling in that space. That is part of
the broader $40 million royalties for regions Water for Food program and is
about accelerating groundwater investigations right across the state, whether
in the north or south. We are doing work with growers in Manjimup and the
member behind me is chairing a committee in the central Midlands. Because we
are talking about the northern Australia white paper, we have a drilling
company working in Fitzroy Crossing with a number of Aboriginal communities on
the lands on the outskirts of Fitzroy Crossing and we are attempting to find
sufficient and sustainable groundwater for a potential irrigated agriculture
project. We will put in place monitoring bores and conduct a science-based
investigation. We understand that there is quite a deal of interest in the
Fitzroy Valley and the Fitzroy River. Everything that we do is done with the
best science available and some of the best scientists we have on hand in the
Department of Water. We expect that the aerial electromagnetic surveys will
commence in August and include data collection for the Derby area, the May and
Meda Rivers, the Willare–Lower Fitzroy River area, Fitzroy Crossing and
the Oscar Ranges. That will give us a much better understanding of the West
Kimberley hydrogeology.
As I said, it is really exciting. It is part of the broader
project of Water for Food. We look forward to partnering with the commonwealth
government to try to expand and fast track this because we know that fantastic
opportunities are on our doorstep if we can have these sustainable projects
that diversify that part of our state.
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