❓ A parliamentary question addresses the sustainability and potential environmental and health impacts of the Water for Food West Kimberley program, particularly concerning groundwater supplies and saltwater intrusion in Derby. The answer provides general assurances about water resource assessments and monitoring but lacks specific details.
AnsweredQoN 1441Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the Water for Food West Kimberley program, I ask: (a) what evidence is there that the groundwater supplies at Knowsley, Mowanjum and Fitzroy Valley are adequate and sufficiently sustainable to support intensive, irrigated agriculture projects such as those announced recently; (b) what will be the environmental and health impacts of the drawdowns being proposed, especially in Derby, where there as been an inland migration of the salt water interface and a consequent rise in salinity levels of drinking water for some years; and (c) what monitoring will be put in place to measure the rate of salt water intrusion into the Derby town water supply, and what contingency procedures are in place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Water
Response time
34 days
(a)Preliminary investigations undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and Department of Water identified potential water resources that could be made available for irrigated agriculture.
(b) Department of Water determines the amount of water that may be licensed for sustainable use. This includes a detailed assessment of the impact of the licensed use on water dependent environments and other users.
(c) For any irrigation developments that could potentially increase the salinity risk for Derby or have a saline intrusion risk, monitoring would be included in the licence conditions.
(b) Department of Water determines the amount of water that may be licensed for sustainable use. This includes a detailed assessment of the impact of the licensed use on water dependent environments and other users.
(c) For any irrigation developments that could potentially increase the salinity risk for Derby or have a saline intrusion risk, monitoring would be included in the licence conditions.
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