❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the government's approach to catchment management for Perth's water supply, questioning the long timeframe of a research project and advocating for it as a cheaper alternative to desalination.
AnsweredQoN 766Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
This question goes back to August. I refer the minister to his press release dated 11 August 2004 in which he rejected claims that the Government has failed to act on catchment management as an option for boosting dam supply. (1) Is the minister aware that the Wungong catchment management research project is planned to run for 12 years? (2) Will the minister explain the necessity for such a long time frame? (3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(1) Is the minister aware that the Wungong catchment management research project is planned to run for 12 years? (2) Will the minister explain the necessity for such a long time frame? (3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(2) Will the minister explain the necessity for such a long time frame? (3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(1) Is the minister aware that the Wungong catchment management research project is planned to run for 12 years? (2) Will the minister explain the necessity for such a long time frame? (3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(2) Will the minister explain the necessity for such a long time frame? (3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(3) Is the minister aware that catchment management was undertaken regularly until the 1970s? (4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(4) Will the minister explain why the Government is not proceeding to implement catchment management in areas impacting on dam supply in Perth as a much cheaper and cleaner method of improving our water supply than a major desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(1) Yes. (2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(2) I am advised that the proposed catchment management research project in Wungong catchment requires 12 years to demonstrate the acceptability of ecological effects of the trial to the satisfaction of key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Conservation Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority. The research will require a minimum of four to six years to treat about 7 600 hectares, and the ecological response of the treated area must then be monitored and reported to stakeholders. (3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(3) Yes. However the focus of catchment management operations until the 1970s was the protection of water quality rather than enhancement of stream flow. (4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
(4) A carefully monitored field trial in the Wungong catchment and the approval of regulatory authorities is required before a decision is made to implement large-scale catchment management around reservoirs to enhance stream flow. This will not produce a significant increase in yield in the short term; hence, it is not a viable alternative to the seawater desalination project.
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.