❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister about the Myalup-Wellington water project funding and its reallocation. The Minister confirms the grant is retained for future projects and the loan is available with conditions, focusing on the Collie to Coast proposal.
AnsweredQoN 437Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MYALUP–WELLINGTON WATER PROJECT
437. Hon
Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to Myalup–Wellington
water project, to my question without notice 323 asked on the 7 April 2022 and
to the minister's public comments that she has retained the $190
million federal government funding as being held in a Western Australian
bucket.
(1) Are both the
original $140 million federal grant and the original $50 million federal loan
facility retained in a Western Australian bucket?
(2) What state
water projects are currently being considered for potential funding from this
$190 million federal government windfall?
(3) What is the
time frame by which the federal funding is required to be acquitted?
(4) Will the
minister support the potential delivery of the below-the-dam-wall components of
the original Myalup–Wellington project; and, if not, why not?
(5) If no to (4),
will the minister take responsibility for the failure of the project under her
watch?
437. Hon
Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to Myalup–Wellington
water project, to my question without notice 323 asked on the 7 April 2022 and
to the minister's public comments that she has retained the $190
million federal government funding as being held in a Western Australian
bucket.
(1) Are both the
original $140 million federal grant and the original $50 million federal loan
facility retained in a Western Australian bucket?
(2) What state
water projects are currently being considered for potential funding from this
$190 million federal government windfall?
(3) What is the
time frame by which the federal funding is required to be acquitted?
(4) Will the
minister support the potential delivery of the below-the-dam-wall components of
the original Myalup–Wellington project; and, if not, why not?
(5) If no to (4),
will the minister take responsibility for the failure of the project under her
watch?
AnswerView source ↗
I think I thank the honourable
member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Minister for
Agriculture and Food, I provide the following answer.
(1) The $140
million grant commitment has been retained in the federal budget for future
projects in Western Australia under the national water grid fund. The option of
a $50 million concessional loan remains available subject to a third party
being capable of underwriting the loan.
(2) Our focus is on the Collie to Coast proposal that
is being managed through the state government's market-led proposal process. The National Water Grid Authority has provided $800 000
towards the development of a preliminary business case.
(3) There is no
set time frame but we are working as quickly as we can to progress the project.
(4) Key below-the-dam-wall components from the
original Myalup–Wellington dam proposal are expected to be
included within the Collie to Coast market-led proposal.
(5) Not applicable. We note that the original project
developed under the former Liberal–National government was very
complex and was always going to be a challenge to deliver.
member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Minister for
Agriculture and Food, I provide the following answer.
(1) The $140
million grant commitment has been retained in the federal budget for future
projects in Western Australia under the national water grid fund. The option of
a $50 million concessional loan remains available subject to a third party
being capable of underwriting the loan.
(2) Our focus is on the Collie to Coast proposal that
is being managed through the state government's market-led proposal process. The National Water Grid Authority has provided $800 000
towards the development of a preliminary business case.
(3) There is no
set time frame but we are working as quickly as we can to progress the project.
(4) Key below-the-dam-wall components from the
original Myalup–Wellington dam proposal are expected to be
included within the Collie to Coast market-led proposal.
(5) Not applicable. We note that the original project
developed under the former Liberal–National government was very
complex and was always going to be a challenge to deliver.
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