❓ Mr Grylls asks about securing water supplies in the Pilbara following groundwater discoveries. The Minister details ongoing investigations, investments, and allocations of newly discovered water resources in the Hamersley Range and west Canning Basin to support growth and development.
AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PILBARA —
GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES
607. Mr
B.J. GRYLLS to the Minister for Water:
The Minister for Water and I were recently in the Pilbara
where a large of amount of groundwater has been discovered in the Hamersley Range
and the west Canning Basin. Can the minister provide the house with an update
on how the Liberal–National government is securing water supplies
across the Pilbara?
GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES
607. Mr
B.J. GRYLLS to the Minister for Water:
The Minister for Water and I were recently in the Pilbara
where a large of amount of groundwater has been discovered in the Hamersley Range
and the west Canning Basin. Can the minister provide the house with an update
on how the Liberal–National government is securing water supplies
across the Pilbara?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Pilbara for the question. I have
spoken in this place previously about the groundwater investigation program
that the Department of Water is currently running to further our understanding
of the vast water resources we have available and how much we can sustainably
use, going forward, to support the growth and development of this great state.
Six of these investigations have been part of a $25 million investment from
royalties for regions, and they are looking at identifying new sources of water
or proving up resources in areas in which some investigations have already been
carried out. Work is being done in Dampier, in the Hamersley Range near
Karratha, the west Canning Basin, Murchison, and the Swan and eastern Scott
coastal plain. In the Pilbara, the economic powerhouse of the state and the nation,
we need to have a sustainable store of water ready to assist current
development and any further development in that part of the state. That is why
we have had this state government program running up there under royalties for
regions and Pilbara Cities. We have also been putting some effort into proving
up water in that space.
Over the winter recess we travelled up to Port Hedland and
announced some of the findings of this process. In the Hamersley Range there is
the potential for an extra 30 gigalitres of water per year that can be used to
promote growth in Onslow and West Pilbara. We think that about 10 gigalitres of
that can go to Onslow and 20 gigalitres can be piped to the West Pilbara
scheme, which supplies the towns of Dampier, Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham.
That adds to the water that we have already proved up in the Bungaroo valley,
which is now being used by Rio Tinto; I have spoken about that previously.
The Water Corporation has also done some work in that space
and has invested in some of the regional infrastructure that is required to
support that growth, and we are continuing to support growth in that part of
the state. In the west Canning Basin there is a very exciting discovery: 100
gigalitres of water that can be used around Port Hedland and Pardoo. We have
already proved up 50 gigalitres and allocated it; we have identified 10 gigalitres
in and around Port Hedland; almost 20 gigalitres per year licensed and
committed towards a staged development of irrigation on pastoral leases; and up
to 20 gigalitres will be used for North Star mining operations by 2016. During
the break we also announced a further 50 gigalitres in the Sandfire area of the
Canning Basin, just 200 kilometres from Port Hedland, and it is really good,
fresh, quality water. The findings of this groundwater investigation are very
exciting, and it is absolutely about supporting the diversification and growth
of the Pilbara. As we make further investigations across the state, that is
exactly what we will do: support small businesses, diversification of
agriculture and opportunities for mining and industry. That is what this
government is all about. It is very exciting, and I look forward to keeping the
house updated as we make further discoveries in this space.
spoken in this place previously about the groundwater investigation program
that the Department of Water is currently running to further our understanding
of the vast water resources we have available and how much we can sustainably
use, going forward, to support the growth and development of this great state.
Six of these investigations have been part of a $25 million investment from
royalties for regions, and they are looking at identifying new sources of water
or proving up resources in areas in which some investigations have already been
carried out. Work is being done in Dampier, in the Hamersley Range near
Karratha, the west Canning Basin, Murchison, and the Swan and eastern Scott
coastal plain. In the Pilbara, the economic powerhouse of the state and the nation,
we need to have a sustainable store of water ready to assist current
development and any further development in that part of the state. That is why
we have had this state government program running up there under royalties for
regions and Pilbara Cities. We have also been putting some effort into proving
up water in that space.
Over the winter recess we travelled up to Port Hedland and
announced some of the findings of this process. In the Hamersley Range there is
the potential for an extra 30 gigalitres of water per year that can be used to
promote growth in Onslow and West Pilbara. We think that about 10 gigalitres of
that can go to Onslow and 20 gigalitres can be piped to the West Pilbara
scheme, which supplies the towns of Dampier, Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham.
That adds to the water that we have already proved up in the Bungaroo valley,
which is now being used by Rio Tinto; I have spoken about that previously.
The Water Corporation has also done some work in that space
and has invested in some of the regional infrastructure that is required to
support that growth, and we are continuing to support growth in that part of
the state. In the west Canning Basin there is a very exciting discovery: 100
gigalitres of water that can be used around Port Hedland and Pardoo. We have
already proved up 50 gigalitres and allocated it; we have identified 10 gigalitres
in and around Port Hedland; almost 20 gigalitres per year licensed and
committed towards a staged development of irrigation on pastoral leases; and up
to 20 gigalitres will be used for North Star mining operations by 2016. During
the break we also announced a further 50 gigalitres in the Sandfire area of the
Canning Basin, just 200 kilometres from Port Hedland, and it is really good,
fresh, quality water. The findings of this groundwater investigation are very
exciting, and it is absolutely about supporting the diversification and growth
of the Pilbara. As we make further investigations across the state, that is
exactly what we will do: support small businesses, diversification of
agriculture and opportunities for mining and industry. That is what this
government is all about. It is very exciting, and I look forward to keeping the
house updated as we make further discoveries in this space.
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