❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about the reduced water levels in Hyde Park lakes, attributing it to a declining groundwater table. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing reduced rainfall and groundwater abstraction as contributing factors, and outlines actions being taken.
AnsweredQoN 4457Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the reduction of environmental water available to the Hyde Park (Third Swamp) wetland lakes in the Town of Vincent, I ask -
(1) What has been the hydrological reason for the reduced water levels in the two lakes that make up the water bodies in these lakes?
(2) Is the Town of Vincent correct in stating that the drying out of the two lakes is due to a 0.5 metre reduction in the surface expression of the underlying groundwater table?
(3) If yes to (2), over what period has this occurred?
(4) Are the water levels artificially controlled in these lakes, and if so, since when?
(5) Will the Minister provide the annual levels of the groundwater table for this area for the last 20 years?
(6) What has been the annual precipitation recharge rate for this area for the last 20 years?
(7) What is the annual drawdown of the groundwater table in this area from bores?
(8) How many bores are there in the area that impact on this groundwater table, by type and purpose?
(9) Does the Minister consider that any of these bores have or are having an effect on the groundwater table that supports the Hyde Park wetland?
(10) If yes to (9), what action will the Minister take to ensure this impact stops?
(11) What legislative protection exists over the Hyde Park wetland, and how is this implemented?
(1) What has been the hydrological reason for the reduced water levels in the two lakes that make up the water bodies in these lakes?
(2) Is the Town of Vincent correct in stating that the drying out of the two lakes is due to a 0.5 metre reduction in the surface expression of the underlying groundwater table?
(3) If yes to (2), over what period has this occurred?
(4) Are the water levels artificially controlled in these lakes, and if so, since when?
(5) Will the Minister provide the annual levels of the groundwater table for this area for the last 20 years?
(6) What has been the annual precipitation recharge rate for this area for the last 20 years?
(7) What is the annual drawdown of the groundwater table in this area from bores?
(8) How many bores are there in the area that impact on this groundwater table, by type and purpose?
(9) Does the Minister consider that any of these bores have or are having an effect on the groundwater table that supports the Hyde Park wetland?
(10) If yes to (9), what action will the Minister take to ensure this impact stops?
(11) What legislative protection exists over the Hyde Park wetland, and how is this implemented?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2007
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water Resources
Response time
42 days
(2) Yes. The Hyde Park lakes are currently isolated from the watertable by about 3 metres. According to hydrograph analysis undertaken by the Department of Water (DoW), there has been about 0.6 - 0.9 metre decline in the groundwater level in the Hyde Park region since 1992 due to a reduction in rainfall and private groundwater abstraction. (3) The decline in groundwater levels has occurred over a 15-year period since 1992. (4) No, the artificial lakes are not currently supplemented. However, the Town of Vincent have supplemented the lakes in the past. The Town of Vincent has a groundwater licence with an allocation of 86,250 kL per year for the irrigation of 11.5 ha of recreational areas in Hyde Park. (5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(3) The decline in groundwater levels has occurred over a 15-year period since 1992. (4) No, the artificial lakes are not currently supplemented. However, the Town of Vincent have supplemented the lakes in the past. The Town of Vincent has a groundwater licence with an allocation of 86,250 kL per year for the irrigation of 11.5 ha of recreational areas in Hyde Park. (5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(4) No, the artificial lakes are not currently supplemented. However, the Town of Vincent have supplemented the lakes in the past. The Town of Vincent has a groundwater licence with an allocation of 86,250 kL per year for the irrigation of 11.5 ha of recreational areas in Hyde Park. (5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(3) The decline in groundwater levels has occurred over a 15-year period since 1992. (4) No, the artificial lakes are not currently supplemented. However, the Town of Vincent have supplemented the lakes in the past. The Town of Vincent has a groundwater licence with an allocation of 86,250 kL per year for the irrigation of 11.5 ha of recreational areas in Hyde Park. (5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(4) No, the artificial lakes are not currently supplemented. However, the Town of Vincent have supplemented the lakes in the past. The Town of Vincent has a groundwater licence with an allocation of 86,250 kL per year for the irrigation of 11.5 ha of recreational areas in Hyde Park. (5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(5) Yes, I can provide the Honourable Member with detailed information if she would like it. Briefly, there are two DoW monitoring bores close to Hyde Park. The closest bore GD6 is 1.6 km west of the site and bore GD7 is 3.1 km north of the site, and has been monitored since 1978. The hydrograph from bore GD7 shows a modest declining trend after 1992, however, these bores are close to piped drains and are not ideal water table monitoring bores to assess the local impacts to the Hyde Park lakes. (6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(6) Since 1969, there has been a reduction in average annual rainfall from 850 mm to 750 mm in the Hyde Park area which is a 12% reduction in recharge to groundwater. (7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(7) Average groundwater level decline since 1992 is about 0.06 metre per year. As per my answer to questions (1) and (2), the decline is due to a combination of a decline in rainfall and groundwater abstraction. (8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(8) Within a 500 metre radius of Hyde Park, there are seven groundwater licences with a combined licensed allocation of 164,349 kL/yr. These are primarily for irrigation of parklands and schools and are held by the Town of Vincent or the City of Perth. (9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(9) Yes, the lakes at Hyde Park are affected by groundwater abstraction in the general area. Also I refer you to my answer to question (1) that highlights the decline in rainfall as the biggest factor in the decline in water levels. (10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(10) Ceasing abstraction from the Town of Vincent irrigation bore would marginally raise groundwater levels but probably not enough to benefit the Hyde Park lakes. I have asked the DoW to review the Town of Vincent's groundwater licence and take appropriate action to ensure that appropriate water conservation and efficiency measures are being undertaken. (11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
(11) The lakes at Hyde Park are artificial and are surrounded by non-native vegetation. As such, they do not have conservation category status or any legislative protection.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.