❓ A parliamentary question regarding the environmental impact of extracting an additional 45 gigalitres of underground water in Perth, given the large reserves and replenishment rate. The Minister responds that it would breach environmental conditions set to protect wetlands and vegetation.
AnsweredQoN 928Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ADDITIONAL EXTRACTION FROM UNDERGROUND SOURCES
In view of the fact that - (a) Perth’s underground water resources are currently 413 000 gigalitres, which would meet the needs of the metropolitan area for more than 1 000 years based on current consumption; (b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS
In view of the fact that - (a) Perth’s underground water resources are currently 413 000 gigalitres, which would meet the needs of the metropolitan area for more than 1 000 years based on current consumption; (b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(a) Perth’s underground water resources are currently 413 000 gigalitres, which would meet the needs of the metropolitan area for more than 1 000 years based on current consumption; (b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(a) Perth’s underground water resources are currently 413 000 gigalitres, which would meet the needs of the metropolitan area for more than 1 000 years based on current consumption; (b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(b) the replenishment rate is 600 gigalitres per annum, which represents four times the annual current usage of underground water; and (c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
(c) planning by the Water Corporation for future needs is predicated on further increasing supply from underground sources; will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
will the minister explain precisely what unacceptable environmental impacts would be caused by the extraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
As a result of scientific studies, the preferred and absolute minimum water levels for the protection of wetlands and phreatophytic - water dependent - vegetation on the Gnangara and Jandakot ground water mounds was set as ministerial conditions in 1995 and 1992 respectively. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for managing private and public abstraction so that these conditions are not breached. Abstraction of an additional 45 gigalitres this year would cause significant breaches of these conditions. This might cause declines in wetland habitat value, which has implications for migratory species and biodiversity. A further decline in terrestrial vegetation health could be expected, as many species, particularly banksia, are dependent on ground water in some areas. At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.