❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses water deficiency declarations, government water carting, and long-term water security plans for regional communities, revealing current declarations, costs, and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 3017Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent water deficiency declaration for the Gairdner district in the Shire of Jerramungup, and I ask: (a) how many water deficiency declarations are active in Western Australia and please provide the following information: (i) geographical location; (ii) what date the declaration was made; and (iii) what assistance is being provided to impacted communities; (b) aside from those communities identified in (a), how many water deficiency declarations have been made in the past 12 months, and please provide the following information: (i) geographical location; (ii) what date the declaration was made; (iii) what date the declaration ended; and (iv) what assistance was provided to impacted communities; (c) is the State Government currently carting water to any communities or regions not identified in (a) or (b) and, if so, please provide detail; (d) has the State Government carted water in the past year to any communities or regions not identified in (a), (b), or (c) and, if so, please provide detail; (e) what is the current cost to Government for water carting to impacted communities this financial year; (f) what is the anticipated cost to Government for water carting to impacted communities in the next financial year; (g) will the State Government reinstate the Farm Water Rebate Scheme; (h) will the State Government reinstate the Pastoral Water Grants Scheme; and (i) what is the State Government’s long-term plan to address water security for regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2020
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Water
Response time
8 days
(a) There are 12 active water deficiency declared areas in Western Australia.
(i) and (ii)
Locations of Water Deficiency Declarations and date of declaration.
Shire / Area
Date Declared
1. Shire of Ravensthorpe – Mt Short
7 May 2019
2. Shire of Lake Grace – Ardler Rd
15 May 2019
3. Shire of Kent – Hollands Rock
4 June 2019
4. Shire of Lake Grace – Tommys
4 December 2019
5. Shire of Jerramungup – Jerramungup
19 December 2019
6. Shire of Esperance – Grasspatch
19 December 2019
7. Shire of Jerramungup – Fitzgerald
13 February 2020
8. Shire of Dumbleyung – Kukerin
21 February 2020
9. Shire of Kent – Hamilton
21 February 2020
10. Shire of Esperance – Salmon Gums
7 March 2020
11. Shire of Jerramungup – Gairdner
10 June 2020
12. Shire of Esperance – Cascades
16 June 2020
(iii) Emergency stock water is supplied by the State Government free of charge and carted to central locations to support farmers in Water Deficiency Declared areas.
The McGowan Government has made significant investment into Strategic Community Water infrastructure. We have spent over $1.5 million on developing and upgrading 37 community water supplies in the south east wheatbelt (dryland agriculture communities) in the last 18 months. We have also provided $541 512 in funding for seven new community water supply projects in 2019-20 in partnership with the Shires of Pingelly, Broomehill-Tambellup, Dumbleyung, Kulin (two projects), Ravensthorpe and the City of Greater Geraldton. All projects will boost the strategic off-farm community water supplies in these vulnerable areas.
Farmers are also able to access a rebate to undertake farm water audits through the Department of Water and Environmental Region’s Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme with the rebate increased to $1000.
(b) All Water Deficiency Declarations made since May 2019 are listed under question (a) above.
(i) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(ii) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(iii) To date, no Water Deficiency Declarations have been formally revoked.
(iv) Refer to question (a)(iii)
(c) Drinking water carting
Location
Reason for carting
Cranbrook
Low levels in local dams
Rocky Gully
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Wellstead
Supplement local source due to water quality
Varley
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Lake King
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Munglinup
Low levels in local dams
Ongerup
Low levels in local dams
Kirup
Providing on-going drinking water supplies (upgrade project active to reduce carting)
Northcliffe
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Quiningup
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Augusta (Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse)
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Logue Brook (Caravan Park)
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Nabawa
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Yuna
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Coomberdale
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
(d) Drinking water carting
Location
Reason for carting
Frankland
Supplement local source when needed
Walpole
Supplement local source (peak season only)
Hyden
Supplement local source and scheme when needed
Yerecoin
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Coorow
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Bolgart
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Gingin
Planned work impacting treatment
(e) Total cost of water carting to all locations for financial year 2019-20: $8 568 187.
(f) Much of the water carting is undertaken on an as-needs basis and the cost for water carting in 2020-21 will vary depending on weather conditions and water user needs.
(g) and (h)
There are no plans to reinstate these schemes. The State Government’s focus is on providing community water supplies which are accessible by all members of the community.
(i) The McGowan Government continues to take a proactive approach to ensuring long-term supply security in areas impacted by climate change. We continue to work with the Federal Government to seek additional funding under Future Drought Fund, and other funding opportunities to support on-the-ground solutions to long-term, systemic dry conditions across WA's pastoral and agricultural regions.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation continues to work with local government authorities to further develop Strategic Community Water Supplies across the dryland wheatbelt region. Work programs will continue to focus on upgrading strategic off-farm supplies in vulnerable Shires.
The Water Corporation continues to monitor and invest in infrastructure to ensure reliable and safe supplies of drinking water.
(i) and (ii)
Locations of Water Deficiency Declarations and date of declaration.
Shire / Area
Date Declared
1. Shire of Ravensthorpe – Mt Short
7 May 2019
2. Shire of Lake Grace – Ardler Rd
15 May 2019
3. Shire of Kent – Hollands Rock
4 June 2019
4. Shire of Lake Grace – Tommys
4 December 2019
5. Shire of Jerramungup – Jerramungup
19 December 2019
6. Shire of Esperance – Grasspatch
19 December 2019
7. Shire of Jerramungup – Fitzgerald
13 February 2020
8. Shire of Dumbleyung – Kukerin
21 February 2020
9. Shire of Kent – Hamilton
21 February 2020
10. Shire of Esperance – Salmon Gums
7 March 2020
11. Shire of Jerramungup – Gairdner
10 June 2020
12. Shire of Esperance – Cascades
16 June 2020
(iii) Emergency stock water is supplied by the State Government free of charge and carted to central locations to support farmers in Water Deficiency Declared areas.
The McGowan Government has made significant investment into Strategic Community Water infrastructure. We have spent over $1.5 million on developing and upgrading 37 community water supplies in the south east wheatbelt (dryland agriculture communities) in the last 18 months. We have also provided $541 512 in funding for seven new community water supply projects in 2019-20 in partnership with the Shires of Pingelly, Broomehill-Tambellup, Dumbleyung, Kulin (two projects), Ravensthorpe and the City of Greater Geraldton. All projects will boost the strategic off-farm community water supplies in these vulnerable areas.
Farmers are also able to access a rebate to undertake farm water audits through the Department of Water and Environmental Region’s Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme with the rebate increased to $1000.
(b) All Water Deficiency Declarations made since May 2019 are listed under question (a) above.
(i) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(ii) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(iii) To date, no Water Deficiency Declarations have been formally revoked.
(iv) Refer to question (a)(iii)
(c) Drinking water carting
Location
Reason for carting
Cranbrook
Low levels in local dams
Rocky Gully
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Wellstead
Supplement local source due to water quality
Varley
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Lake King
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Munglinup
Low levels in local dams
Ongerup
Low levels in local dams
Kirup
Providing on-going drinking water supplies (upgrade project active to reduce carting)
Northcliffe
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Quiningup
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Augusta (Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse)
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Logue Brook (Caravan Park)
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Nabawa
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Yuna
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
Coomberdale
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
(d) Drinking water carting
Location
Reason for carting
Frankland
Supplement local source when needed
Walpole
Supplement local source (peak season only)
Hyden
Supplement local source and scheme when needed
Yerecoin
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Coorow
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Bolgart
Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
Gingin
Planned work impacting treatment
(e) Total cost of water carting to all locations for financial year 2019-20: $8 568 187.
(f) Much of the water carting is undertaken on an as-needs basis and the cost for water carting in 2020-21 will vary depending on weather conditions and water user needs.
(g) and (h)
There are no plans to reinstate these schemes. The State Government’s focus is on providing community water supplies which are accessible by all members of the community.
(i) The McGowan Government continues to take a proactive approach to ensuring long-term supply security in areas impacted by climate change. We continue to work with the Federal Government to seek additional funding under Future Drought Fund, and other funding opportunities to support on-the-ground solutions to long-term, systemic dry conditions across WA's pastoral and agricultural regions.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation continues to work with local government authorities to further develop Strategic Community Water Supplies across the dryland wheatbelt region. Work programs will continue to focus on upgrading strategic off-farm supplies in vulnerable Shires.
The Water Corporation continues to monitor and invest in infrastructure to ensure reliable and safe supplies of drinking water.
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