❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding Perth's groundwater supply capacity, questioning the purpose of unused capacity, discrepancies in supply figures, and the rationale behind abstraction limits despite new bore developments.
AnsweredQoN 1528Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to Perth’s unused ground water supply capacity illustrated by the 41 bores that have been turned off for the past two years. (1) What was the purpose of developing Perth’s ground water supply capacity beyond our needs in ordinary rainfall years, if not to offset reduced dam supply in low rainfall or drought years in order to avoid severe water restrictions like those currently applying? (2) Why is this year’s planned ground water supply of 167 gigalitres only nine gigalitres more than last year despite the extra 21 gigalitres of ground water supplied from the new bores developed last year? (3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(1) What was the purpose of developing Perth’s ground water supply capacity beyond our needs in ordinary rainfall years, if not to offset reduced dam supply in low rainfall or drought years in order to avoid severe water restrictions like those currently applying? (2) Why is this year’s planned ground water supply of 167 gigalitres only nine gigalitres more than last year despite the extra 21 gigalitres of ground water supplied from the new bores developed last year? (3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(2) Why is this year’s planned ground water supply of 167 gigalitres only nine gigalitres more than last year despite the extra 21 gigalitres of ground water supplied from the new bores developed last year? (3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(1) What was the purpose of developing Perth’s ground water supply capacity beyond our needs in ordinary rainfall years, if not to offset reduced dam supply in low rainfall or drought years in order to avoid severe water restrictions like those currently applying? (2) Why is this year’s planned ground water supply of 167 gigalitres only nine gigalitres more than last year despite the extra 21 gigalitres of ground water supplied from the new bores developed last year? (3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(2) Why is this year’s planned ground water supply of 167 gigalitres only nine gigalitres more than last year despite the extra 21 gigalitres of ground water supplied from the new bores developed last year? (3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(3) Can the minister explain why his answer to question without notice 1495 - that the maximum capacity of ground water supply to the Perth integrated water supply scheme is 180 gigalitres - does not reflect the sum of the maximum capacity figure of 185 gigalitres he gave in reply to question without notice 1301 on 17 April 2002 and the additional 21 gigalitres yielded by the new bores developed last year? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(1) The current level of ground water capacity has been developed to meet peak summer demands. (2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(2) The Water Corporation has requested an abstraction of 167 gigalitres from the Water and Rivers Commission for 2003-04. This abstraction is within the constraints of previous approvals by the regulators. The corporation is awaiting confirmation of this allocation from the Water and Rivers Commission. The new bores established over the past year enable the total abstraction to be managed in a way that protects environmentally sensitive areas. (3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
(3) The 180 gigalitre capacity is the latest estimate of the capacity of the system to abstract and deliver water to customers as gained from operating experience this year.
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