A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on the funding and specifics of the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant expansion, including project reprioritization, budget inclusion, and pipeline details. The Minister provides answers regarding project review, budget timing, pipeline length, location, capacity, and operational status.

AnsweredQoN 674Legislative Council
Asked
31 August 2011
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

SOUTHERN SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT
I refer to the media statement of 1 August in the name of the minister and the Premier about the expansion of the southern seawater desalination plant. (1) What projects will be reprioritised by the Water Corporation to meet the $300 million allocation for the southern seawater desalination plant from its budget? (2) Why was the southern seawater desalination plant expansion and its funding mix not included in the 2011–12 budget papers or mentioned at estimates hearings? (3) If the southern seawater desalination plant expansion will now cost $450 million, which was calculated by the minister in the media as $400 million for the plant and $50 million for the pipeline, can the minister explain — (a) exactly how much pipeline will be constructed for $50 million; (b) where will the pipeline start and finish; (c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(1) What projects will be reprioritised by the Water Corporation to meet the $300 million allocation for the southern seawater desalination plant from its budget? (2) Why was the southern seawater desalination plant expansion and its funding mix not included in the 2011–12 budget papers or mentioned at estimates hearings? (3) If the southern seawater desalination plant expansion will now cost $450 million, which was calculated by the minister in the media as $400 million for the plant and $50 million for the pipeline, can the minister explain — (a) exactly how much pipeline will be constructed for $50 million; (b) where will the pipeline start and finish; (c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(2) Why was the southern seawater desalination plant expansion and its funding mix not included in the 2011–12 budget papers or mentioned at estimates hearings? (3) If the southern seawater desalination plant expansion will now cost $450 million, which was calculated by the minister in the media as $400 million for the plant and $50 million for the pipeline, can the minister explain — (a) exactly how much pipeline will be constructed for $50 million; (b) where will the pipeline start and finish; (c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(3) If the southern seawater desalination plant expansion will now cost $450 million, which was calculated by the minister in the media as $400 million for the plant and $50 million for the pipeline, can the minister explain — (a) exactly how much pipeline will be constructed for $50 million; (b) where will the pipeline start and finish; (c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(b) where will the pipeline start and finish; (c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant?
(c) what is the capacity of the proposed pipeline; and (d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant?
(d) will the proposed pipeline run at full capacity following commissioning of the expanded desalination plant?
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(1) The Water Corporation, the minister and Treasury are reviewing projects within the Water Corporation’s $3.6 billion capital works program. (2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(2) The decision to proceed was not made until after the 2011–12 budget. (3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(3) (a) There will be 26.9 kilometres constructed. The actual cost will be determined through the tendering process. (b) The pipeline will be constructed between Harvey and Pinjarra. The exact location will be finalised through the final design process. (c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(c) The proposed pipeline will assist in lifting the capacity of the southern trunk main to 100 gigalitres a year. (d) Yes.
(d) Yes.

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