Following Wesfarmers' withdrawal from Ord River irrigation project stage 2, Mr. Ainsworth questions whether the stage 1 farming community will receive their requested 365 gigalitre water allocation. Dr. Edwards states the government will reconsider water allocation, and the community can submit a new proposal.

AnsweredQoN 694Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 December 2001
Portfolio
Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

ORD RIVER IRRIGATION PROJECT, WATER ALLOCATION
Given the recent announcement by Wesfarmers Ltd that it will not proceed with the stage 2 development of the Ord River irrigation project, will the Government provide the farming community of stage 1 of the Ord River irrigation project with their original request for a water allocation of 365 gigalitres per annum? Dr EDWARDS

AnswerView source ↗

In the light of the decision by Wesfarmers Ltd not to proceed with stage 2 of the Ord River irrigation project, the Government will need to reconsider reallocating the water that was set aside for stage 2. The existing interim water allocation plan provides water for the stage 1 irrigators, as well as a number of other people. Any proposal put forward would need to be considered in the light of other proposals that might come forward. The farming community can now approach the Government with a new proposal for water that had been notionally set aside for stage 2. I recognise the work that the irrigators of stage 1 have done to make their use of water more efficient and effective, particularly through the installation of automated equipment.
Dr EDWARDS replied: In the light of the decision by Wesfarmers Ltd not to proceed with stage 2 of the Ord River irrigation project, the Government will need to reconsider reallocating the water that was set aside for stage 2. The existing interim water allocation plan provides water for the stage 1 irrigators, as well as a number of other people. Any proposal put forward would need to be considered in the light of other proposals that might come forward. The farming community can now approach the Government with a new proposal for water that had been notionally set aside for stage 2. I recognise the work that the irrigators of stage 1 have done to make their use of water more efficient and effective, particularly through the installation of automated equipment.
In the light of the decision by Wesfarmers Ltd not to proceed with stage 2 of the Ord River irrigation project, the Government will need to reconsider reallocating the water that was set aside for stage 2. The existing interim water allocation plan provides water for the stage 1 irrigators, as well as a number of other people. Any proposal put forward would need to be considered in the light of other proposals that might come forward. The farming community can now approach the Government with a new proposal for water that had been notionally set aside for stage 2. I recognise the work that the irrigators of stage 1 have done to make their use of water more efficient and effective, particularly through the installation of automated equipment.

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