❓ Dr. Thomas raises concerns about the Yarragadee Aquifer proposal, questioning potential environmental impacts and the independence of research. The Minister assures that independent review and environmental offsets are being considered.
AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the proposal to access the Yarragadee Aquifer for the Integrated Water Supply Scheme, and ask, is the Minister aware that the joint research by the Water Corporation and Water and Rivers Commission resulted in the Water Study Report, which concluded that drawdowns in excess of conservatively determined environmental criteria might be expected in several sensitive areas in the longer term as a consequence of local regional growth in groundwater abstraction, and that Water Corporation abstractions had the potential to exacerbate these effects in several areas?
(2) Will the Minister authorise an independent study into the implications of the Water Corporation’s plan to tap into the Yarragadee Aquifer, given that research into the matter was jointly conducted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission (resulting in the Water Study Report) and it has been left to the Corporation to carry out or largely finance subsequent investigations?
(3) Will the Minister advise if there will be any compromise on environmental grounds if the proposal to harvest 45 Gigalitres a year from the Yarragadee Aquifer, which the Water Corporation suggested qualified for ‘special circumstances’ consideration by the Government in the Sustainability Evaluation Scoping Report, is accepted?
(4) Is there any reason why the Peer Review Panel Report on the South-West Aquifer Modelling System was not included amongst the references itemised for the Sustainability Evaluation Scoping Report and its research not drawn on for the Report?
(2) Will the Minister authorise an independent study into the implications of the Water Corporation’s plan to tap into the Yarragadee Aquifer, given that research into the matter was jointly conducted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission (resulting in the Water Study Report) and it has been left to the Corporation to carry out or largely finance subsequent investigations?
(3) Will the Minister advise if there will be any compromise on environmental grounds if the proposal to harvest 45 Gigalitres a year from the Yarragadee Aquifer, which the Water Corporation suggested qualified for ‘special circumstances’ consideration by the Government in the Sustainability Evaluation Scoping Report, is accepted?
(4) Is there any reason why the Peer Review Panel Report on the South-West Aquifer Modelling System was not included amongst the references itemised for the Sustainability Evaluation Scoping Report and its research not drawn on for the Report?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 October 2005
Responded by
Minister for Water Resources
Response time
41 days
(2) An independent peer review has been set up and is already an integral part of the evaluation and assessment processes for the proposal. (3) I can advise that the Environmental Protection Authority's Preliminary (Version 2) Position Statement on Environmental Offsets outlines the concept of "special circumstances" and its application to essential services such as water, electricity and gas projects. Where "special circumstances" apply, the Position Statement notes that the approval of such projects should be made conditional on the development and implementation of a comprehensive offsets package. (4) The Scoping Report outlines the issues to be addressed by the Water Corporation in evaluating the proposal and preparing documentation for the consideration of regulatory agencies and the Government. The findings of the Peer Review Panel Report are an important input to the current investigation and the evaluation processes, and will be referred to when a final submission is made to the Government.
(3) I can advise that the Environmental Protection Authority's Preliminary (Version 2) Position Statement on Environmental Offsets outlines the concept of "special circumstances" and its application to essential services such as water, electricity and gas projects. Where "special circumstances" apply, the Position Statement notes that the approval of such projects should be made conditional on the development and implementation of a comprehensive offsets package. (4) The Scoping Report outlines the issues to be addressed by the Water Corporation in evaluating the proposal and preparing documentation for the consideration of regulatory agencies and the Government. The findings of the Peer Review Panel Report are an important input to the current investigation and the evaluation processes, and will be referred to when a final submission is made to the Government.
(4) The Scoping Report outlines the issues to be addressed by the Water Corporation in evaluating the proposal and preparing documentation for the consideration of regulatory agencies and the Government. The findings of the Peer Review Panel Report are an important input to the current investigation and the evaluation processes, and will be referred to when a final submission is made to the Government.
(3) I can advise that the Environmental Protection Authority's Preliminary (Version 2) Position Statement on Environmental Offsets outlines the concept of "special circumstances" and its application to essential services such as water, electricity and gas projects. Where "special circumstances" apply, the Position Statement notes that the approval of such projects should be made conditional on the development and implementation of a comprehensive offsets package. (4) The Scoping Report outlines the issues to be addressed by the Water Corporation in evaluating the proposal and preparing documentation for the consideration of regulatory agencies and the Government. The findings of the Peer Review Panel Report are an important input to the current investigation and the evaluation processes, and will be referred to when a final submission is made to the Government.
(4) The Scoping Report outlines the issues to be addressed by the Water Corporation in evaluating the proposal and preparing documentation for the consideration of regulatory agencies and the Government. The findings of the Peer Review Panel Report are an important input to the current investigation and the evaluation processes, and will be referred to when a final submission is made to the Government.
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