❓ Ms. Winton asks about the necessity and job creation aspects of the Neerabup groundwater treatment plant upgrade. The Minister details the project's benefits for water supply and job creation, highlighting its role in climate change adaptation and Labor's historical commitment to water security.
AnsweredQoN 925Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NEERABUP GROUNDWATER
TREATMENT PLANT
925. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the McGowan government's
$52 million investment to upgrade the Neerabup groundwater treatment plant. Can
the minister advise the house why this project is needed and how it will
support jobs in the northern suburbs?
TREATMENT PLANT
925. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the McGowan government's
$52 million investment to upgrade the Neerabup groundwater treatment plant. Can
the minister advise the house why this project is needed and how it will
support jobs in the northern suburbs?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for her support for jobs in her electorate. I am pleased to
answer this question during what is National Water Week. Before I address
the particular question, I would like, firstly, to pay tribute to a number of
public sector workers who really assist us in delivering first-class water
services in Western Australia. We are one of the few places in the world where
people can turn on a tap and drink the water. Whether it is the public sector
staff at the Water Corporation, Aqwest in Bunbury, Busselton Water or the
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, I would like the house to
recognise the great work they do in delivering great water services and dealing
with the impacts of climate change in WA.
As
part of Water Week we announced the $52 million project to upgrade the Neerabup
groundwater treatment plant, which is the final stage of the groundwater
replenishment project. That will see the amount of recycled water in Perth's
drinking water system increased from 14 billion litres to 28 billion litres
when it is completed in 2020. It is an absolutely outstanding project that will
create 120 local jobs in Neerabup and will increase the capacity of that plant
from 100 million litres of water a day to 150 million litres of water a day. It
is an absolutely essential part of making sure that Perth has a sustainable
water supply into the future. We are using water that would otherwise be
essentially pumped out into the Indian Ocean. We are now treating it to a higher
level, almost to drinking water standards, then pumping it into the aquifer to
be taken out later and used as drinking water. It will be treated again at
Neerabup water treatment plant before it goes out to homes and becomes part of
our drinking water supply.
This project has had a long
history. People would be well familiar with the ''State Water Recycling
Strategy: An Overview''
released in June 2008. It was released by the then Premier, Alan Carpenter, and
by the late John Kobelke, who, at the time was the water resources
minister. I have to say that John Kobelke was an absolutely fantastic water minister, and what was really important
about this recycling strategy is that it identified for the very first time that groundwater replenishment, the use of treated wastewater, had the
potential to be part of Perth's water supply. In this strategy, in 2008, they committed $3 million to start a trial of
this technology and effectively quarantined the wastewater from the
Beenyup wastewater treatment plant in Craigie for this use. Labor has always
been the first mover when it comes to dealing with the impacts of climate
change. We were the ones who began the desalination program. It was the Carpenter
government that had the wisdom and the vision to start the research that has
now become the groundwater replenishment scheme, which will deliver, as I said,
28 billion litres of water that will become part of Perth's drinking
water supply.
During National Water Week I am very pleased to advise the
house that yet again, Labor governments are dealing with issues relating to
climate change. We are securing Perth's water supply. Whether it be in
Perth, Denmark, Bunbury or the north west, we are the only ones that can be
trusted with dealing with the impacts of climate change and ensuring that Western
Australia has a sustainable drinking water supply going forward.
thank the member for her support for jobs in her electorate. I am pleased to
answer this question during what is National Water Week. Before I address
the particular question, I would like, firstly, to pay tribute to a number of
public sector workers who really assist us in delivering first-class water
services in Western Australia. We are one of the few places in the world where
people can turn on a tap and drink the water. Whether it is the public sector
staff at the Water Corporation, Aqwest in Bunbury, Busselton Water or the
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, I would like the house to
recognise the great work they do in delivering great water services and dealing
with the impacts of climate change in WA.
As
part of Water Week we announced the $52 million project to upgrade the Neerabup
groundwater treatment plant, which is the final stage of the groundwater
replenishment project. That will see the amount of recycled water in Perth's
drinking water system increased from 14 billion litres to 28 billion litres
when it is completed in 2020. It is an absolutely outstanding project that will
create 120 local jobs in Neerabup and will increase the capacity of that plant
from 100 million litres of water a day to 150 million litres of water a day. It
is an absolutely essential part of making sure that Perth has a sustainable
water supply into the future. We are using water that would otherwise be
essentially pumped out into the Indian Ocean. We are now treating it to a higher
level, almost to drinking water standards, then pumping it into the aquifer to
be taken out later and used as drinking water. It will be treated again at
Neerabup water treatment plant before it goes out to homes and becomes part of
our drinking water supply.
This project has had a long
history. People would be well familiar with the ''State Water Recycling
Strategy: An Overview''
released in June 2008. It was released by the then Premier, Alan Carpenter, and
by the late John Kobelke, who, at the time was the water resources
minister. I have to say that John Kobelke was an absolutely fantastic water minister, and what was really important
about this recycling strategy is that it identified for the very first time that groundwater replenishment, the use of treated wastewater, had the
potential to be part of Perth's water supply. In this strategy, in 2008, they committed $3 million to start a trial of
this technology and effectively quarantined the wastewater from the
Beenyup wastewater treatment plant in Craigie for this use. Labor has always
been the first mover when it comes to dealing with the impacts of climate
change. We were the ones who began the desalination program. It was the Carpenter
government that had the wisdom and the vision to start the research that has
now become the groundwater replenishment scheme, which will deliver, as I said,
28 billion litres of water that will become part of Perth's drinking
water supply.
During National Water Week I am very pleased to advise the
house that yet again, Labor governments are dealing with issues relating to
climate change. We are securing Perth's water supply. Whether it be in
Perth, Denmark, Bunbury or the north west, we are the only ones that can be
trusted with dealing with the impacts of climate change and ensuring that Western
Australia has a sustainable drinking water supply going forward.
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