❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Water Corporation's alleged use of taxpayer funds to campaign against a proposed water treatment plant, specifically questioning a brochure and the rationale behind it. The Minister denies campaigning against the project and explains funding was provided to a community group to ensure a balanced debate.
AnsweredQoN 863Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Water Corporation’s proposed Mundaring (Drinking) Water Treatment Plant, I ask -
(1)
Can the Minister confirm that the Water Corporation spent $5000, or any other sum, publishing a full colour, double sided A3 brochure advocating against the proposed MWTP, entitled “We thought it had gone, we were wrong, it’s back”?
(2)
Is it common practice for the Water Corporation to spend taxpayer funds to produce material that advocates against public works projects?
(3)
How many times in the past five years have the Water Corporation invested taxpayer funds in promotional material advocating against public works projects? If this is the case, what promotional material was funded?
(4)
What rationale does the Water Corporation have to support the publication of material containing statements such as “Together we can say ‘No!’ and protect our community! You can help stop this!”
?
(5)
Is it the position of the Water Corporation that there should not be a new Mundaring Water Treatment Plant?
(6)
Does the Water Corporation have any information, research, or advice that the proposed model for the Mundaring Water Treatment Plant does pose risk to lives and property in the Perth Hills? If so, what is that information and what risks are posed?
(1)
Can the Minister confirm that the Water Corporation spent $5000, or any other sum, publishing a full colour, double sided A3 brochure advocating against the proposed MWTP, entitled “We thought it had gone, we were wrong, it’s back”?
(2)
Is it common practice for the Water Corporation to spend taxpayer funds to produce material that advocates against public works projects?
(3)
How many times in the past five years have the Water Corporation invested taxpayer funds in promotional material advocating against public works projects? If this is the case, what promotional material was funded?
(4)
What rationale does the Water Corporation have to support the publication of material containing statements such as “Together we can say ‘No!’ and protect our community! You can help stop this!”
?
(5)
Is it the position of the Water Corporation that there should not be a new Mundaring Water Treatment Plant?
(6)
Does the Water Corporation have any information, research, or advice that the proposed model for the Mundaring Water Treatment Plant does pose risk to lives and property in the Perth Hills? If so, what is that information and what risks are posed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 May 2006
Responded by
Minister for Water Resources
Response time
27 days
(2) No (3) Nil (4) The Water Corporation is committed to consulting widely and thoroughly with the Mundaring community on this issue and, in the lead up to a public meeting on 20 February 2006, the Water Corporation distributed an information brochure. The Mundaring Public Community Consultation Group (MPCCG), representing the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association, the Mundaring Residents and Ratepayers Association, EARTH - Hills Community Environmental Group and the Reserve Protection Group, with whom the Water Corporation had been liaising, did not have the financial resources to distribute a newsletter presenting its side of the argument. Therefore, in the interests of promoting a fair and balanced debate, the Corporation agreed to fund the printing and distribution of the MPCCG newsletter. The distribution of the newsletter was undertaken at the same time as the Water Corporation's information brochure. (5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(3) Nil (4) The Water Corporation is committed to consulting widely and thoroughly with the Mundaring community on this issue and, in the lead up to a public meeting on 20 February 2006, the Water Corporation distributed an information brochure. The Mundaring Public Community Consultation Group (MPCCG), representing the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association, the Mundaring Residents and Ratepayers Association, EARTH - Hills Community Environmental Group and the Reserve Protection Group, with whom the Water Corporation had been liaising, did not have the financial resources to distribute a newsletter presenting its side of the argument. Therefore, in the interests of promoting a fair and balanced debate, the Corporation agreed to fund the printing and distribution of the MPCCG newsletter. The distribution of the newsletter was undertaken at the same time as the Water Corporation's information brochure. (5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(4) The Water Corporation is committed to consulting widely and thoroughly with the Mundaring community on this issue and, in the lead up to a public meeting on 20 February 2006, the Water Corporation distributed an information brochure. The Mundaring Public Community Consultation Group (MPCCG), representing the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association, the Mundaring Residents and Ratepayers Association, EARTH - Hills Community Environmental Group and the Reserve Protection Group, with whom the Water Corporation had been liaising, did not have the financial resources to distribute a newsletter presenting its side of the argument. Therefore, in the interests of promoting a fair and balanced debate, the Corporation agreed to fund the printing and distribution of the MPCCG newsletter. The distribution of the newsletter was undertaken at the same time as the Water Corporation's information brochure. (5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(3) Nil (4) The Water Corporation is committed to consulting widely and thoroughly with the Mundaring community on this issue and, in the lead up to a public meeting on 20 February 2006, the Water Corporation distributed an information brochure. The Mundaring Public Community Consultation Group (MPCCG), representing the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association, the Mundaring Residents and Ratepayers Association, EARTH - Hills Community Environmental Group and the Reserve Protection Group, with whom the Water Corporation had been liaising, did not have the financial resources to distribute a newsletter presenting its side of the argument. Therefore, in the interests of promoting a fair and balanced debate, the Corporation agreed to fund the printing and distribution of the MPCCG newsletter. The distribution of the newsletter was undertaken at the same time as the Water Corporation's information brochure. (5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(4) The Water Corporation is committed to consulting widely and thoroughly with the Mundaring community on this issue and, in the lead up to a public meeting on 20 February 2006, the Water Corporation distributed an information brochure. The Mundaring Public Community Consultation Group (MPCCG), representing the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association, the Mundaring Residents and Ratepayers Association, EARTH - Hills Community Environmental Group and the Reserve Protection Group, with whom the Water Corporation had been liaising, did not have the financial resources to distribute a newsletter presenting its side of the argument. Therefore, in the interests of promoting a fair and balanced debate, the Corporation agreed to fund the printing and distribution of the MPCCG newsletter. The distribution of the newsletter was undertaken at the same time as the Water Corporation's information brochure. (5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(5) No (6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
(6) Water treatment plants are an integral part of the Water Corporation's business and it currently operates 249 of these facilities throughout the State. These facilities have operated for many years without any significant incident impacting on the community. The proposed water treatment plant at Mundaring is essential and will operate to the same high standard of hazard management and control.
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