❓ Question regarding the delay in approving Water Corporation's application for additional groundwater extraction and whether enough water will be approved to avoid water restrictions. The Minister responds that approvals are limited by environmental impact assessments.
AnsweredQoN 912Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GROUND WATER RESERVES, IMPACT ON WATER RESTRICTIONS
I am advised by the Minister for Government Enterprises that the Water Corporation has the capacity to extract at least an extra 45 gigalitres per annum from underground water resources; that the current water restrictions on sprinkler use are intended to save 45 gigalitres this financial year; and that the Water Corporation applied to the Water and Rivers Commission on 18 October for approval to draw an additional 32 gigalitres of underground water this financial year, of which approval had been given for only 6.5 gigalitres as at 4 December. In view of this information, will the minister advise - (1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS
I am advised by the Minister for Government Enterprises that the Water Corporation has the capacity to extract at least an extra 45 gigalitres per annum from underground water resources; that the current water restrictions on sprinkler use are intended to save 45 gigalitres this financial year; and that the Water Corporation applied to the Water and Rivers Commission on 18 October for approval to draw an additional 32 gigalitres of underground water this financial year, of which approval had been given for only 6.5 gigalitres as at 4 December. In view of this information, will the minister advise - (1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
In view of this information, will the minister advise - (1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
In view of this information, will the minister advise - (1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(1) What reasons are there for the delay by the Water and Rivers Commission in determining the rest of the Water Corporation’s application for a further 25.5 gigalitres of underground water? (2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(2) Whether the Water and Rivers Commission would grant approval to the Water Corporation to extract enough underground water to meet the 45 gigalitres required to avoid current watering restrictions. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(1) The Water and Rivers Commission, in discussions with the Water Corporation, has agreed to allocate as much ground water as possible without having unacceptable environmental impacts. The agreement was ratified by the Environmental Protection Authority on 6 December 2001, and the licence applications are now being processed as quickly as possible in accordance with the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. A total of 158.95 gigalitres has been approved, which is 13 gigalitres more than last year’s allocation. (2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
(2) The Water and Rivers Commission, in consultation with the EPA, has determined that an additional 45 gigalitres of ground water for this summer would be likely to result in unacceptable environmental impacts. The Water Corporation applied for 161.8 gigalitres. Whilst it is important to review current water supply options, water restrictions continue to be an important strategy to manage the demand.
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