❓ Dr. Honey inquires about the WA government's $1.3 million investment in rural community water supplies. The government responds with details of projects, completion status, and future plans, including seeking federal funding for further upgrades.
AnsweredQoN 6015Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a press release, dated 18 December 2019, that states "This $210,000 investment takes the total funding committed through this program to assist rural communities this year to $500,000, and comes on top of our $1.3 million investment to create new or upgrade rural State-owned Strategic Community Water Supplies", and I ask: (a) What projects have been funded with the stated $1.3 million investment; (b) By project, how much money has been invested in each project; (c) In summary form, what is the scope of work for each of these projects; (d) Which projects have been completed; (e) By project, when are the uncompleted projects expected to be completed; (f) Are any other new State-owned Strategic Community Water Supplies planned to be constructed over the next 2 calendar years; and (g) Are there any planned upgrades of other State-owned Strategic Community Water Supplies over the next 2 calendar years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 May 2020
Responded by
Minister for Water
Response time
12 days
(a) The $1.3 million State Government investment referred to in December 2019 has now increased to approximately $1.5 million and covers 37 water source projects and three supporting projects such as fencing and monitoring devices. The work has focused on upgrades to Strategic Community Water Supplies in shires in the dryland agricultural area most affected by the dry conditions and water deficiencies. [See tabled paper no.]
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c) The scope of the work has included dam desilting and enlargement, water catchment upgrades, and the installation of large tanks and solar powered pump systems. A number of bores have also been developed and equipped with solar pump systems and tanks to optimise storage capacity.
(d) A total of 30 projects are now complete, with work on ten projects still in progress [See tabled paper no.]
(e) All projects are expected to be complete by mid-2020.
(f)-(g) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation undertakes an annual program of works to maintain and upgrade State-owned Strategic Community Water Supplies. The State also continues to offer a Community Water Supply Program which co-funds local government projects that refurbish or develop new strategic supplies and provide fit-for purpose non-potable water to reduce the reliance on scheme water for irrigation of sporting facilities and public amenities. Consultation with local governments and the community are underway to develop the forward program of works.
The State Government is currently seeking a fair share of funding for Western Australia from the Commonwealth Government’s $100 million per year Future Drought Fund (due to commence in July 2020) for a project that will initially see a further 90 community water supplies upgraded or developed across the Western Australian dryland agricultural region.
This project will expand the State’s current work to develop non-potable water supplies for emergency stock water and agriculture, provide more reliable water sources for firefighting; and for the irrigation of sporting facilities and other important community greenspaces in regional towns.
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c) The scope of the work has included dam desilting and enlargement, water catchment upgrades, and the installation of large tanks and solar powered pump systems. A number of bores have also been developed and equipped with solar pump systems and tanks to optimise storage capacity.
(d) A total of 30 projects are now complete, with work on ten projects still in progress [See tabled paper no.]
(e) All projects are expected to be complete by mid-2020.
(f)-(g) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation undertakes an annual program of works to maintain and upgrade State-owned Strategic Community Water Supplies. The State also continues to offer a Community Water Supply Program which co-funds local government projects that refurbish or develop new strategic supplies and provide fit-for purpose non-potable water to reduce the reliance on scheme water for irrigation of sporting facilities and public amenities. Consultation with local governments and the community are underway to develop the forward program of works.
The State Government is currently seeking a fair share of funding for Western Australia from the Commonwealth Government’s $100 million per year Future Drought Fund (due to commence in July 2020) for a project that will initially see a further 90 community water supplies upgraded or developed across the Western Australian dryland agricultural region.
This project will expand the State’s current work to develop non-potable water supplies for emergency stock water and agriculture, provide more reliable water sources for firefighting; and for the irrigation of sporting facilities and other important community greenspaces in regional towns.
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