❓ Mr. Kelly questions the Minister for Water about increased risk to wastewater assets due to funding restraints and potential marine discharge, despite water charge increases. The Minister acknowledges the risk but assures operations are within license conditions and investments will address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 823Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION — WASTEWATER ASSET MAINTENANCE
823. Mr D.J. KELLY to the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the
revelations in the Water Corporation's 2013–14 statement of
corporate intent that the risk rating of its wastewater assets has increased
due to ''lower than optimal levels of maintenance repair'' caused
by funding restraints, and that this may result in increased discharge into
sensitive marine areas. Given that water charges have risen 63 per cent under
this government, how does the minister explain such alarming warnings from the
Water Corporation about the condition of its wastewater assets?
823. Mr D.J. KELLY to the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the
revelations in the Water Corporation's 2013–14 statement of
corporate intent that the risk rating of its wastewater assets has increased
due to ''lower than optimal levels of maintenance repair'' caused
by funding restraints, and that this may result in increased discharge into
sensitive marine areas. Given that water charges have risen 63 per cent under
this government, how does the minister explain such alarming warnings from the
Water Corporation about the condition of its wastewater assets?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Bassendean for the question. I think there was some public commentary when
that statement of corporate intent came out. In general, the assets across the
Water Corporation are fairly young, but some concern with the nature of some of
those assets has been identified through that process. I make the point—I
think the point was made in the audit—that we are still operating
within the licence arrangements prescribed by the Economic Regulation
Authority. We are not operating outside of that. I think it has been raised as
a risk. It is a risk that the Water Corporation will respond to with its
investment program. The redirection of investments that has been and is being
made will help to bring that risk back to a more appropriate level. Certainly,
it is appropriate for an organisation like the Water Corporation to risk-manage
those assets. That is the basis of how it works out where its investments will
go. The concern was raised that maybe that is getting a bit close to the edge
of where we might like it to be, but I am still comfortable that it is
operating within the licence conditions.
for Bassendean for the question. I think there was some public commentary when
that statement of corporate intent came out. In general, the assets across the
Water Corporation are fairly young, but some concern with the nature of some of
those assets has been identified through that process. I make the point—I
think the point was made in the audit—that we are still operating
within the licence arrangements prescribed by the Economic Regulation
Authority. We are not operating outside of that. I think it has been raised as
a risk. It is a risk that the Water Corporation will respond to with its
investment program. The redirection of investments that has been and is being
made will help to bring that risk back to a more appropriate level. Certainly,
it is appropriate for an organisation like the Water Corporation to risk-manage
those assets. That is the basis of how it works out where its investments will
go. The concern was raised that maybe that is getting a bit close to the edge
of where we might like it to be, but I am still comfortable that it is
operating within the licence conditions.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.