❓ Mr Love questions the Cook Government's Pilbara water security plan, focusing on groundwater bore relocation, water usage from the Millstream Aquifer, and budget allocation. The Minister provides details on investigations, bore numbers, and funding for various aspects of the project.
AnsweredQoN 1009Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the Minister's Media Statement on 5 November 2025 titled "Cook Government to secure Pilbara's water future", and ask: (a) How many groundwater bores will be relocated or recommissioned as part of this 12.4 million dollar commitment; (b) How many groundwater bores are currently drawing from the Millstream Aquifer; (c) What will be the total number of groundwater bores drawing from the Millstream Aquifer once this project is complete; (d) What is the projected increase or reduction in water that will be drawn from the Millstream Aquifer once this work is complete; and (e) Breakdown the total budget from the 12.4 million dollars allocated to: (i) Relocation and recommissioning groundwater bores; (ii) Solar-powered battery systems with diesel backup; and (iii) Department or Agency staff employed as part of this 12.4 million dollar investment? (2) The Media Release states the Cook Government is progressing investigations into larger-scale supply options to meet the region's long-term drinking water needs: (a) Which Department or Agency is conducting these investigations; (b) How many different options are being investigated and what are they; (c) Is there a timeline for these investigations to be complete; and (d) What is the total allocated budget for these investigations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for Water
Response time
9 days
(1)
a) Water Corporation will undertake investigative drilling to determine the number of bores required to be developed or relocated, incorporating an assessment of potential yield, whilst minimising impacts on culturally and ecologically significant areas.
b) Six.
c) See the answer to a) as this will determine the total number of bores.
d) The addition of new or recommissioned bores within the Millstream Aquifer is intended to enable water abstraction to be sourced from locations further removed from culturally and ecologically significant areas, consistent with Water License conditions and advice from Yinjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation.
e) (i) and (ii)
Item
Cost Estimate ($,000)
Initial desktop, geophysical and heritage surveys
153
Investigative drilling
407
Feasibility study
508
Develop production bores
966
Design, construct and commission: solar hybrid pumping station, water treatment facilities, borefield pipeline
10,167
Provision of critical spares
230
Total
12,431
(iii) This investment does not require additional staff for the completion of this project.
(2)
a) The Government is delivering the Accelerating Pilbara Planning Program, announced on 12 June 2025, led by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the Department) to ensure coordination across government. The program will accelerate water planning and improve the transparency and accessibility of water resource data, supporting Pilbara’s regional development and addressing climate change impacts.
Water Corporation is undertaking investigations to plan and deliver new drinking water sources for the West Pilbara and Port Hedland water supply schemes. This is being undertaken in collaboration with government departments, including the Department, Infrastructure WA, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification and DevelopmentWA.
b) A range of options are being explored, including seawater desalination. This encompasses potential Water Corporation source development projects and consideration of third-party capabilities to meet future demand to reduce reliance on existing climate-dependent water sources.
c) Ongoing water security work in the Pilbara is being progressed as a top priority for the State Government, DWER, and Water Corporation.
d) $4.2m is allocated to the Accelerating Pilbara Planning Program led by the Department. $19.3 million is currently allocated in Water Corporation’s Asset Investment Program to support water source investigations for West Pilbara and Port Hedland water supply schemes.
a) Water Corporation will undertake investigative drilling to determine the number of bores required to be developed or relocated, incorporating an assessment of potential yield, whilst minimising impacts on culturally and ecologically significant areas.
b) Six.
c) See the answer to a) as this will determine the total number of bores.
d) The addition of new or recommissioned bores within the Millstream Aquifer is intended to enable water abstraction to be sourced from locations further removed from culturally and ecologically significant areas, consistent with Water License conditions and advice from Yinjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation.
e) (i) and (ii)
Item
Cost Estimate ($,000)
Initial desktop, geophysical and heritage surveys
153
Investigative drilling
407
Feasibility study
508
Develop production bores
966
Design, construct and commission: solar hybrid pumping station, water treatment facilities, borefield pipeline
10,167
Provision of critical spares
230
Total
12,431
(iii) This investment does not require additional staff for the completion of this project.
(2)
a) The Government is delivering the Accelerating Pilbara Planning Program, announced on 12 June 2025, led by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the Department) to ensure coordination across government. The program will accelerate water planning and improve the transparency and accessibility of water resource data, supporting Pilbara’s regional development and addressing climate change impacts.
Water Corporation is undertaking investigations to plan and deliver new drinking water sources for the West Pilbara and Port Hedland water supply schemes. This is being undertaken in collaboration with government departments, including the Department, Infrastructure WA, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification and DevelopmentWA.
b) A range of options are being explored, including seawater desalination. This encompasses potential Water Corporation source development projects and consideration of third-party capabilities to meet future demand to reduce reliance on existing climate-dependent water sources.
c) Ongoing water security work in the Pilbara is being progressed as a top priority for the State Government, DWER, and Water Corporation.
d) $4.2m is allocated to the Accelerating Pilbara Planning Program led by the Department. $19.3 million is currently allocated in Water Corporation’s Asset Investment Program to support water source investigations for West Pilbara and Port Hedland water supply schemes.
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