❓ The Premier addresses the water shortage by announcing a $37 million program to sink bores into the Yarragadee aquifer, promising a 7% increase in water supply by next summer and criticising the previous government's drought-proofing efforts.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER SHORTAGE
What is the Government doing about the water shortage in this State? Dr GALLOP
What is the Government doing about the water shortage in this State? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
This morning I was in Gwelup in the member’s electorate of Innaloo to announce that the Government has commissioned the sinking of three bores into the Yarragadee aquifer. The bores will be sunk to 800 metres in Gwelup, Scarborough and Carine to extract water from that very deep aquifer, which stretches from south of Geraldton to the south west of the State. It is estimated to contain 450 000 gigalitres of water. Under the $37 million program announced today, three new, deep artesian wells will deliver 15 gigalitres of water, which is the total annual consumption of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
The combined output of 12 shallow bores drilled at Mirrabooka, which are now equipped under a separate $11 million program, and the three new bores, will provide a seven per cent improvement to our State’s water supplies by next summer. Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
Since the day it came to government, this Government has been working on this issue to bring about long-term certainty of water resources for the people of Western Australia. This project will be completed in time to provide water for next summer and will greatly reduce the probability of a total sprinkler ban. The $37 million cost of the project is fully funded in the Water Corporation’s budget and this initiative will not be paid through an increase in water charges or a water tax. The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
The Government knows that this is only one part of the solution. It is therefore the first of many announcements that it will make on strategies to deal with this issue. We need a wide-ranging, comprehensive water strategy. I remind members of this Chamber of the previous Government’s position on this issue. Do members remember this newspaper article headed “Budget plans to drought-proof city”? It was the so-called drought-proof strategy introduced by the previous Government in 1999. Two years later we are experiencing a major crisis and it is up to the Labor Government, as has occurred with many issues in this State, to solve the problems it inherited. This is another example of the shallow rhetoric manifested in the former coalition’s style of government that was not backed up by a policy commitment. Both supply and demand issues must be considered in the solution to a water strategy. The supply side has a range of options and this Government will complete the task of providing a comprehensive strategy. The former coalition Government was as effective at drought proofing this State as it was at producing surplus budgets for the people of Western Australia.
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