❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Broome Water Reserve, covering bore details, water depth monitoring, potential groundwater decline, water quality, and the possibility of fracking. The response provides specific data and clarifies the regulatory process for shale and tight gas proposals.
AnsweredQoN 3768Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the Broome Water Reserve, and I ask: (a) how many bores are there in the reserve; (b) how many bores are in use; (c) what is the depth of these bores; (d) how often is the depth to water monitored; (e) what are the latest results of the depth to water in each bore; (f) has there been an increase in depth to groundwater in the past 10 years; (g) if yes to (f), what is the increase for each bore; (h) over the past year have any of the health related chemicals exceeded the Australian drinking water guidelines; (i) if yes to (h), which ones; (j) can the Minister rule out fracking for shale or tight gas in the reserve; and (k) if no to (j), why not?
refer to the Broome Water Reserve, and I ask: (a) how many bores are there in the reserve; (b) how many bores are in use; (c) what is the depth of these bores; (d) how often is the depth to water monitored; (e) what are the latest results of the depth to water in each bore; (f) has there been an increase in depth to groundwater in the past 10 years; (g) if yes to (f), what is the increase for each bore; (h) over the past year have any of the health related chemicals exceeded the Australian drinking water guidelines; (i) if yes to (h), which ones; (j) can the Minister rule out fracking for shale or tight gas in the reserve; and (k) if no to (j), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 March 2016
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Water
Response time
105 days
(a) 29 (20 production and 9 monitoring). Some monitoring bores specifically target salt water intrusion risk from Dampier Creek, others are intended to monitor intrusion from the western coast direction, as well early warning of drawdown caused by pumping. (b) 29 (c) 76 – 104 metres for production bores 43 – 150 metres for monitoring bores, with one monitoring bore also screened in a deeper groundwater system at 180 metres. (d) Six times per year, most recent data provided is 15 January 2016. (e) 11.91 – 48.49 metres in production bores; 5.35 – 46.4 metres in monitoring bores. (f) Yes, in some bores (g) Depths to groundwater fluctuate significantly within and between years, depending on recent rainfall and pumping history. Water depths in most bores have remained stable in the last few years. [See tabled paper no.]. (h) No (i) Not applicable (j) The Department of Mines and Petroleum, as the regulator, considers proposals for shale and tight gas upon advice from the Department of Water and other government agencies. (k) Not applicable
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