❓ A parliamentary question regarding peat fires in Gnangara mound wetlands, their link to groundwater decline, and the Department of Water's actions to mitigate the issue. The Minister acknowledges the problem and outlines monitoring efforts, but downplays the impact of groundwater extraction.
AnsweredQoN 824Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER RESOURCES - PEAT FIRES
This is a burning question! Further to my question without notice 800 of 21 September 2006 - (1) Is the minister aware that peat fires have occurred in a significant number of wetlands of the Gnangara mound in the past five years? (2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE
This is a burning question! Further to my question without notice 800 of 21 September 2006 - (1) Is the minister aware that peat fires have occurred in a significant number of wetlands of the Gnangara mound in the past five years? (2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(1) Is the minister aware that peat fires have occurred in a significant number of wetlands of the Gnangara mound in the past five years? (2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future?
I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(1) Is the minister aware that peat fires have occurred in a significant number of wetlands of the Gnangara mound in the past five years? (2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(2) Is the minister aware that ground water decline is making peat deposits more susceptible to drying and catching alight? (3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(3) Given that the Department of Water is responsible for issuing licences to extract ground water in the locality of peat-rich wetlands, what steps is the minister taking to - (a) reduce ground water extraction; and (b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(b) prevent peat fires both now and into the future?
I thank Hon Paul Llewellyn for providing some notice of this burning question! (1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(1) Yes, the City of Wanneroo’s community fire officer has advised the Department of Water that there has been approximately one wetland peat fire per year for the past five years. Lake Carabooda, which is burning now, also burnt in 2000-01. (2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(2) The DOW has advised that a number of wetlands that seasonally dry out have underlying peat deposits. Reduced rainfall is the principal cause of these wetlands drying out for longer periods, making them more susceptible to fire. (3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(3) (a) Ground water abstraction in the vicinity of wetlands in the Wanneroo area is regularly monitored to ensure that water is used efficiently and in accordance with the licence. (b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
(b) Investigation by the DOW indicates that reducing ground water abstraction would not significantly reduce the risk of peat fires.
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