❓ A parliamentary question regarding water supply options for Kalgoorlie, focusing on desalination at Esperance and alternative solutions. The Minister clarifies the government's considerations and other potential water sources.
AnsweredQoN 1428Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his press statement of 20 October regarding the proposal for desalinated water for Kalgoorlie. (1) What were the options evaluated in the report prepared by United Utilities referred to in the minister’s statement? (2) Has the Government undertaken any other detailed study into options other than desalination at Esperance for supplying fresh water to Kalgoorlie? (3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(1) What were the options evaluated in the report prepared by United Utilities referred to in the minister’s statement? (2) Has the Government undertaken any other detailed study into options other than desalination at Esperance for supplying fresh water to Kalgoorlie? (3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(2) Has the Government undertaken any other detailed study into options other than desalination at Esperance for supplying fresh water to Kalgoorlie? (3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(1) What were the options evaluated in the report prepared by United Utilities referred to in the minister’s statement? (2) Has the Government undertaken any other detailed study into options other than desalination at Esperance for supplying fresh water to Kalgoorlie? (3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(2) Has the Government undertaken any other detailed study into options other than desalination at Esperance for supplying fresh water to Kalgoorlie? (3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(3) If so, can the minister indicate what those other options are? (4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(4) Can the minister explain why the desalination at Esperance proposal is seemingly the main focus of the Government’s consideration for water supply to Kalgoorlie? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Water Corporation advises that - (1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(1) The only option evaluated in the report from the joint working group - comprising the Water Corporation, the Office of Water Regulation and United Utilities - was the desalination of seawater at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie, as foreshadowed under section 6.2 of the state water strategy. (2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(2) Yes. (3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(3) Other options considered by the Government are upgrading the existing goldfields and agricultural water supply; transferring seawater from Esperance with treatment at Kalgoorlie; transferring ground water from the Officer Basin; and transferring ground water from the Geraldton-Perth basin. (4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
(4) Desalination at Esperance and transfer to Kalgoorlie is not the only focus for water supply to the goldfields community. It is a valid option to satisfy major new mining demands that may result from the development of new mining projects, or the substitution of hypersaline supplies by existing operations.
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