❓ The Minister outlines the extensive investigations into the Yarragadee aquifer and the contingency planning for a second desalination plant, deferring a decision until the EPA provides its assessment. The decision timing depends on the EPA's clearance and any conditions attached.
AnsweredQoN 171Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER SUPPLY
(1) What criteria will the minister use in determining whether additional water supplies for the integrated water supply system will be obtained from a second desalination plant or the south west Yarragadee aquifer? (2) When will this decision be made? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
(1) What criteria will the minister use in determining whether additional water supplies for the integrated water supply system will be obtained from a second desalination plant or the south west Yarragadee aquifer? (2) When will this decision be made? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
(2) When will this decision be made? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
(1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
(2) When will this decision be made? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
(1)-(2) I had hoped that the member would be aware that major investigations and a range of approval processes have been entered into to determine whether 45 gigalitres of water can be accessed from the south west Yarragadee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Because of the extensiveness of those studies, it has taken a lot longer than was originally thought necessary. Clearly, the job needs to be done properly. The matter is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority to determine whether it will give it clearance. If that clearance is given, the government will be in a position - Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.H.D. Day : What criteria will you use to determine whether it is one or the other? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am pointing out to the member that we need additional water resources. There are a number of different figures, but I will cite just one. The amount of water that has been used in the integrated system in the past nine years has averaged 13 billion litres, which is more than the amount of water that goes into the system. If we consider the amount of water that is available in the dams and from run-off and ground water, we find that each year an average of 13 billion litres more water is being used than goes into the system. To address that problem, a major new water source needs to be found. We have done that, and the desalination plant will open later this year. The Western Australian economy is booming, there are growing demands from industry, and the population is increasing; therefore, another water source is required. The south west Yarragadee aquifer has been proposed as that source. If approval is not given to use that aquifer, the government will need to look to an alternative. It is standard policy that when a process is embarked upon to gain approval for the construction of a major water source to supply in the order of 45 billion litres of water a year, a second-rung scheme must also be available in case the first scheme cannot go ahead. Therefore, work has started on seeking approval for a second desalination plant, should approval not be given to access the south west Yarragadee aquifer. We need to be prudent to ensure that the water that will be needed in the future can be supplied. We will wait and see what the approval will be, because there might be conditions on that approval, and they would be taken into account in the decision making. However, work will continue on the preliminary planning, the various approvals and the community consultation for a second desalination plant, in case the decision that is made is not to proceed with using the south west Yarragadee aquifer as the next major water source. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : It will be following the decision made by the Environmental Protection Authority. I cannot give the member a definite answer on that, because if the EPA gave a total clearance in which there were no issues, it would be one set of circumstances upon which to make that decision. If it gave a clearance with conditions, it might require more work on the conditions before a decision could be made. Matters like that will have to be taken into account in making that decision. What is absolutely beyond contest is that the amount of science, planning and consultation that has gone into this will ensure that when a decision is made, it will have a very high level of reliability and a high level of public acceptance.
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