❓ Hon Alison Xamon questions the WA government on Mandurah's static water consumption compared to other cities' reductions and the justification for desalination plants. The government defends its approach, citing temporary bans elsewhere and successful water efficiency initiatives in Mandurah.
AnsweredQoN 2344Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent publication by the National Water Commission, ‘National Performance Report 2008 - 2009: urban water utilities’. In 2005 - 06 the average consumption per household in Mandurah was 270 kilolitres. In 2008 - 09 the average was 270 kilolitres. Over the same period other major cities have reduced their consumption by on average, 23 percent. Brisbane reduced household consumption by 48.4 percent, and I ask -
(1) Why has consumption for Mandurah’s households remained static, while the Government is proceeding with expensive and polluting desalination plants to increase Mandurah’s supply?
(2) What is the Government doing to strongly drive down per capita water consumption?
(1) Why has consumption for Mandurah’s households remained static, while the Government is proceeding with expensive and polluting desalination plants to increase Mandurah’s supply?
(2) What is the Government doing to strongly drive down per capita water consumption?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Water
Response time
42 days
(1) A key consideration is that the other States have all been subject to total sprinkler bans during this period, and in some cases, complete outside watering bans, which will artificially lower consumption on a temporary basis. These restrictions have now been relaxed in some cities and consumption is expected to increase. The Water Corporation has been able to manage the State's water supply without the need for such harsh restrictions.
Mandurah is a rapidly expanding town. Per capita water use tends to increase in new development areas, as new houses and gardens are established. Despite this, the Water Corporation's water efficiency initiatives have successfully reduced Mandurah's household water usage from 372 kilolitres in 2000-2001, to 270 kilolitres in 2008-2009, a reduction of 27 per cent.
(2) The two day per week sprinkler roster in Perth and the Southern area of Western Australia, and the alternate day roster in the rest of Western Australia, is now part of Western Australia's permanent Water Efficiency Measures, rather than a temporary restriction. These permanent measures are the strongest across Australia and receive greater than 90 per cent support from the Western Australian community.
In addition to the permanent Water Efficiency Measures, the Government has introduced a permanent winter sprinkler ban for the South West of the State. The Water Corporation is also set to implement its newly developed Metropolitan and Regional Water Efficiency Strategies, which have drawn on the lessons of a number of residential and non-residential behavioural change and retrofit trials and pilots over the last few years, to mitigate against the effects of climate change.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Mandurah is a rapidly expanding town. Per capita water use tends to increase in new development areas, as new houses and gardens are established. Despite this, the Water Corporation's water efficiency initiatives have successfully reduced Mandurah's household water usage from 372 kilolitres in 2000-2001, to 270 kilolitres in 2008-2009, a reduction of 27 per cent.
(2) The two day per week sprinkler roster in Perth and the Southern area of Western Australia, and the alternate day roster in the rest of Western Australia, is now part of Western Australia's permanent Water Efficiency Measures, rather than a temporary restriction. These permanent measures are the strongest across Australia and receive greater than 90 per cent support from the Western Australian community.
In addition to the permanent Water Efficiency Measures, the Government has introduced a permanent winter sprinkler ban for the South West of the State. The Water Corporation is also set to implement its newly developed Metropolitan and Regional Water Efficiency Strategies, which have drawn on the lessons of a number of residential and non-residential behavioural change and retrofit trials and pilots over the last few years, to mitigate against the effects of climate change.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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.