❓ Mr. Watson questions the Premier about delays in the Bunbury to Albany gas pipeline project, alleging broken promises. The Premier acknowledges challenges due to the lack of a major customer but reaffirms commitment to the project.
AnsweredQoN 795Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUNBURY TO
ALBANY GAS PIPELINE
795. Mr P.B. WATSON to the
Premier:
Firstly, I would like to
congratulate the member for Pilbara on behalf of my constituents for everything
that he has done for regional WA.
I refer to comments from the Albany
Chamber of Commerce and Industry that claimed that the Bunbury to Albany gas
pipeline shows no sign of being completed by the government's 2015
deadline, and the election commitment that the tender process would be
completed in April this year.
(1) Has this project gone out to tender as the Premier
claimed in April of this year?
(2) If yes to (1), why has it not appeared on the Tenders WA
website?
(3) When will this project, which has been promised at two
consecutive elections, be delivered?
ALBANY GAS PIPELINE
795. Mr P.B. WATSON to the
Premier:
Firstly, I would like to
congratulate the member for Pilbara on behalf of my constituents for everything
that he has done for regional WA.
I refer to comments from the Albany
Chamber of Commerce and Industry that claimed that the Bunbury to Albany gas
pipeline shows no sign of being completed by the government's 2015
deadline, and the election commitment that the tender process would be
completed in April this year.
(1) Has this project gone out to tender as the Premier
claimed in April of this year?
(2) If yes to (1), why has it not appeared on the Tenders WA
website?
(3) When will this project, which has been promised at two
consecutive elections, be delivered?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Just like Albany
Hospital, the south west gas pipeline to Albany will also be delivered.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am not that good at lies; is that what the member said?
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I do not need your assistance. I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There have been two broad cost estimates for the project. Unfortunately, they
vary by a significant amount. I have asked the Department of State Development
to review those and when that is done, we will proceed with the process of
developing that pipeline. The difficulty with the Albany pipeline is that there
is no single major customer at the end of it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr P.B. Watson :
Premier, you came out before the election and said it was a done deal. You have
lied to the people of Albany again.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, will you withdraw that comment immediately, please.
Mr P.B. WATSON : I
withdraw immediately.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The difficulty with this pipeline compared with others that have been built
around the state is that there is no single large customer, and usually that
would be a power station associated with a resource project. However, there is
a growing population along the length of that pipeline, so gas sales will
ultimately be to a large number of small customers, both residential and
business. We are committed to doing that. There will be a partnership between
the private sector and the state government through one of its utilities, and
work is progressing on that. I know it has been longer than I would have
anticipated, but we are committed to achieving that pipeline project.
Hospital, the south west gas pipeline to Albany will also be delivered.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am not that good at lies; is that what the member said?
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I do not need your assistance. I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There have been two broad cost estimates for the project. Unfortunately, they
vary by a significant amount. I have asked the Department of State Development
to review those and when that is done, we will proceed with the process of
developing that pipeline. The difficulty with the Albany pipeline is that there
is no single major customer at the end of it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr P.B. Watson :
Premier, you came out before the election and said it was a done deal. You have
lied to the people of Albany again.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, will you withdraw that comment immediately, please.
Mr P.B. WATSON : I
withdraw immediately.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The difficulty with this pipeline compared with others that have been built
around the state is that there is no single large customer, and usually that
would be a power station associated with a resource project. However, there is
a growing population along the length of that pipeline, so gas sales will
ultimately be to a large number of small customers, both residential and
business. We are committed to doing that. There will be a partnership between
the private sector and the state government through one of its utilities, and
work is progressing on that. I know it has been longer than I would have
anticipated, but we are committed to achieving that pipeline project.
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