❓ Hon Jess Beckerling's QoN addresses water licensing in the Kimberley and Fitzroy River Catchment, seeking detailed information on applications, usage, and rejections. The Minister provides data on application numbers, volumes, and reasons for rejection, but notes some data is not readily available.
AnsweredQoN 659Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to water licences in the Kimberley, and I ask: (a) how many water licence applications are currently being assessed by the Department of Water in the Kimberley; (b) for each application in (a), can the Minister please provide the following: (i) detail of the application type; (ii) volume of water applied for; (iii) date application was received; (iv) primary party for the application; (v) location; (vi) assessment status as at date question is received; and (vii) whether the application is for surface or groundwater; (c) how much groundwater is currently licenced to be used in the Kimberley; (d) how much surface water is currently licenced to be used in the Kimberley; (e) how much water is currently being removed, in total, from rivers or wetlands in the Kimberley each year; (f) have any water licence applications in the Kimberley been rejected in the past four years; (g) if yes to (f), can the Minister please provide the following details for each rejected application: (i) primary party for the application; (ii) volume of water sought through the application; and (iii) reasons for rejection of application, as provided to the applicant; (h) how many water licence applications are currently being assessed by the Department of Water for the Fitzroy River Catchment; and (i) for each application in (h), can the Minister please provide the following: (i) volume of water applied for; (ii) date application was received; (iii) location; and (iv) proposed method of extraction?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water
Response time
9 days
(a) As of 20 October 2025, there are 51 5C water licence applications being assessed. 38 of these applications are for groundwater licences and the remaining 13 are for surface water licence applications.
(b) (i-vii) [see tabled paper no.659].
(c) 149 gigalitres.
(d) 475 gigalitres.
(e) The total volume of water currently being removed from rivers or wetlands in the Kimberley each year is not readily available. It is not possible for the Department to answer as it would exclude unlicensed communities and stock and domestic use.
(f) Yes
(g) (i-iii) There were three water license applications rejected in the last four years as detailed below.
Licence Application
Primary Party
Volume Requested (kL/a)
Reasons for rejection of application, as provided to the applicant
028397 - GWL
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd
22000000
Further information not provided in a reasonable timeframe. Operational policy 5.11
048840 - GWL
Burton, Jamie Peter
1400000
Application incomplete, requested information not received, cannot be assessed under Regulation 7.2
051970 - SWL
Northern Minerals Limited
550
Application incomplete, requested information not received, cannot be assessed under Regulation 7.2
(h) One.
(i) The volume of water requested is 50,000,000 kilolitres annually, or 50 gigalitres annually.
(ii) 26 June 2017.
(iii) Gogo Station.
(iv) The proposed method of extraction is diversion of flood water and extraction through offtake channel from a tributary of the Fitzroy River.
(b) (i-vii) [see tabled paper no.659].
(c) 149 gigalitres.
(d) 475 gigalitres.
(e) The total volume of water currently being removed from rivers or wetlands in the Kimberley each year is not readily available. It is not possible for the Department to answer as it would exclude unlicensed communities and stock and domestic use.
(f) Yes
(g) (i-iii) There were three water license applications rejected in the last four years as detailed below.
Licence Application
Primary Party
Volume Requested (kL/a)
Reasons for rejection of application, as provided to the applicant
028397 - GWL
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd
22000000
Further information not provided in a reasonable timeframe. Operational policy 5.11
048840 - GWL
Burton, Jamie Peter
1400000
Application incomplete, requested information not received, cannot be assessed under Regulation 7.2
051970 - SWL
Northern Minerals Limited
550
Application incomplete, requested information not received, cannot be assessed under Regulation 7.2
(h) One.
(i) The volume of water requested is 50,000,000 kilolitres annually, or 50 gigalitres annually.
(ii) 26 June 2017.
(iii) Gogo Station.
(iv) The proposed method of extraction is diversion of flood water and extraction through offtake channel from a tributary of the Fitzroy River.
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