❓ Hon. N.F. Moore questions the potential impact on tree health (in hectares) of increased groundwater abstraction by the Water Corporation. The Minister's response indicates potential for tree death under specific climatic conditions and notes that impact area size depends on the water source.
AnsweredQoN 944Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER RESTRICTIONS, GROUND WATER ABSTRACTION 944. Hon N.F. MOORE to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage: In answer to question without notice 928 the minister said, “At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.” What is the geographic size in hectares of the areas that would be threatened by allowing the Water Corporation to increase its ground water abstraction by, firstly, a further 25 gigalitres this financial year, and, secondly, a further 35 gigalitres this financial year? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
WATER RESTRICTIONS, GROUND WATER ABSTRACTION
In answer to question without notice 928 the minister said, “At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.” What is the geographic size in hectares of the areas that would be threatened by allowing the Water Corporation to increase its ground water abstraction by, firstly, a further 25 gigalitres this financial year, and, secondly, a further 35 gigalitres this financial year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
WATER RESTRICTIONS, GROUND WATER ABSTRACTION
In answer to question without notice 928 the minister said, “At its most extreme, excessive abstraction of ground water could cause widespread tree death.” What is the geographic size in hectares of the areas that would be threatened by allowing the Water Corporation to increase its ground water abstraction by, firstly, a further 25 gigalitres this financial year, and, secondly, a further 35 gigalitres this financial year? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has advised that widespread tree deaths are possible if extremely high temperatures accompany a dry summer, as occurred in the early 1990s. Deaths are likely in areas away from well fields as well as near them. The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
The PRESIDENT: I ask the minister to speak up. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Production bores adjacent to sensitive wetlands and vegetation have been turned off to reduce the likelihood of that happening. The size of an impact area of either 25 gigalitres or 35 gigalitres depends on the source of the water. In the event of another extremely dry winter in 2002, a contingency plan may be required for additional extraction from the Yarragadee formation. Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon Barry House: You usually shout in this House. Why don’t you speak up? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon Peter Foss: We just want to hear you - that’s all. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Happy Christmas to the member too! Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
Early modelling results indicate that additional extraction may be possible without a severe impact on superficial ground water level; however, additional work is required to confirm this. Extraction of large amounts from the superficial formation would not be possible without causing environmental degradation and is unlikely to be approved by the Water and Rivers Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority.
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