❓ The Minister defends the Kwinana desalination plant as a climate-independent, secure water source, criticising alternative proposals as economically unviable and risky, particularly those from the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 216Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER - DESALINATION
Will the minister please advise the house how desalination compares with other water supply options, such as Col’s canal or Paul’s pipeline? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Will the minister please advise the house how desalination compares with other water supply options, such as Col’s canal or Paul’s pipeline? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for her question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
I thank the member for her question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for her question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
I thank the member for her question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : We are now well aware that the decision to build a seawater desalination plant at Kwinana has proved to be a world leader and has given us reliable knowledge that we can deliver very good quality water from sea water and do so at a reasonable price. The issue of reducing risk was a very big factor when desalination was weighed up against a range of other sources. Taking 45 gigalitres at about $1.35 a kilolitre from the south west Yarragadee aquifer would have been somewhat cheaper. However, because of our drying climate, if the plant had to be turned down to half volume or turned off and the number of gigalitres it was designed and built for could not be put through the plant, there was a large risk that the cost of water a kilolitre would be much higher. We therefore considered other sources. Clearly, the body of water at Wellington dam is huge, but the risks around that option indicated that it would be another seven to eight years before we could be certain of bringing water from that source. Again, aquifer injection and the ability to recycle water will offer hope for the future. However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
However, as the Premier said, we believe that by committing to this desalination plant we are making provision for a source of water that can be expanded at some time in the future. When members compare those sources, they will see that we are opting for a source of water that will be climate-independent and therefore have a high level of certainty; whereas members opposite have talked about bringing water from the Kimberley, a totally nonsensical idea in terms of modern economics. Of course, we know that the opposition knows nothing about economics. As we heard in the responses from the Premier and the Deputy Premier, members opposite are totally illiterate when it comes to any economics or proper business planning. Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr T. Buswell : Have you ever got out of the teachers’ union and run a business? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Mr Speaker, I am happy to take the member for Vasse’s interjections, as he shows his ignorance every time he opens his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth the ignorance is there for everyone to hear, as with the Leader of the Opposition who only a few weeks ago was talking about bringing water in a pipeline from the Kimberley. As the Premier has already indicated, that would be three times the cost of the desalination plant and have huge risks associated with it. We know that finding water in the Kimberley is not easy - Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : There are risks to delivering water into a dam or drawing it from underground. Members opposite cannot simply say that water will be available because it rains there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The government’s decision is based on ensuring that we provide the greatest security possible to the water supply for the people of Western Australia and that we do it in a responsible way. That stacks up in contrast with the wild dreams of members opposite who do no homework and have no understanding of what is achievable economically to deliver water to the people of Western Australia.
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