❓ The Premier addresses water security in WA, dismissing the Kimberley water transport proposal as financially unsustainable and highlighting the government's diverse water management strategy and increased water capacity through various projects.
AnsweredQoN 176Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER SECURITY
Can the Premier please advise the house what the state government is doing to secure Western Australia’s water future? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Can the Premier please advise the house what the state government is doing to secure Western Australia’s water future? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
Today the findings of the independent investigation into the feasibility of transporting water from the Kimberley were released and they make very interesting reading. I have tabled a copy in the house today. The study revealed, once and for all, that bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is too costly and, quite simply, is not a reality. The hard, cold reality that we have to stare at when we talk about this issue is that building the canal would cripple this state financially. Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Today the findings of the independent investigation into the feasibility of transporting water from the Kimberley were released and they make very interesting reading. I have tabled a copy in the house today. The study revealed, once and for all, that bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is too costly and, quite simply, is not a reality. The hard, cold reality that we have to stare at when we talk about this issue is that building the canal would cripple this state financially. Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Today the findings of the independent investigation into the feasibility of transporting water from the Kimberley were released and they make very interesting reading. I have tabled a copy in the house today. The study revealed, once and for all, that bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is too costly and, quite simply, is not a reality. The hard, cold reality that we have to stare at when we talk about this issue is that building the canal would cripple this state financially. Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Today the findings of the independent investigation into the feasibility of transporting water from the Kimberley were released and they make very interesting reading. I have tabled a copy in the house today. The study revealed, once and for all, that bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is too costly and, quite simply, is not a reality. The hard, cold reality that we have to stare at when we talk about this issue is that building the canal would cripple this state financially. Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Today the findings of the independent investigation into the feasibility of transporting water from the Kimberley were released and they make very interesting reading. I have tabled a copy in the house today. The study revealed, once and for all, that bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is too costly and, quite simply, is not a reality. The hard, cold reality that we have to stare at when we talk about this issue is that building the canal would cripple this state financially. Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Fortunately, our water management strategy of security through diversity does not hinge on transporting water from the Kimberley. Our strategy relies on many options and the strategy is working. We are leading the nation in water management and that is recognised by the federal government. We have an excellent track record of implementing responsible and practical water policies. Since coming to power in 2001 an additional 70 gigalitres have been added to our system and, with projects that are being developed now, a further 67 gigalitres are ready to come on stream. Future source options that are being investigated could provide an additional 217 gigalitres. When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
When we came to power in 2000-01 there was a drought and the capacity in our south west system was about 255 gigalitres. We have already increased that to 320 to 330 gigalitres, a 27 per cent increase, through the projects that we have put in place. Those that we are now bringing to finalisation will take that to nearly 400 gigalitres - from 255 to nearly 400 gigalitres - which is more than a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Also, we have embarked on a demand management strategy that seeks to make people in Western Australia, particularly in the metropolitan area, understand that the resource they are using needs to be used wisely and efficiently. We have been very successful in maintaining a lid on demand with the sprinkler allocation of only two days a week watering and with the water rebate system, whereby we encourage people to buy more water-wise products. This is a very important issue, not only for the metropolitan area and the south west but for all of Western Australia. Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Like everyone else in Western Australia, I am drawn to the superficial attraction of the long-held dream of bringing water from the Kimberley down into the metropolitan area. As a journalist I did a lot of stories with Ernie Bridge, who held, and still holds, that dream. In government we have to be responsible and realistic and provide real options for the community and not just dangle in front of people superficially attractive fantasies that would drive the state bankrupt. The $14.5 billion capital cost is augmented by the ongoing operational cost, which is in the billions of dollars. On the basis of this the $14.5 billion cost is an absolute minimum cost. There will be many other costs. I come back to the answer to the previous question: there is a raft of private infrastructure projects that are on train at the moment where the costs are blowing out 30 to 50 per cent, whereas the rail project has been contained to single-digit percentile increases. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Imagine a state government embarking on a project that it knew would cost as much as the entire state budget and that experience all around us would tell it that - The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the members for Darling Range and Vasse. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The report was comprehensive. I am very grateful to Professor Appleyard and his team for what they have done. They have provided all Western Australians, and both the current government and governments to come, with a valuable piece of work that demonstrates to us that the superficially attractive dream of bringing water from the Kimberley to the south west is not affordable, and neither is it environmentally sustainable.
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