A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the environmental impact of extracting 45 gigalitres of water from the southern Yarragadee aquifer, specifically regarding watertable drop, seawater ingress, and potential deleterious effects. The Minister defers answering, citing ongoing review processes.

AnsweredQoN 88Legislative Assembly
Asked
27 March 2007
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

YARRAGADEE AQUIFER - PLANS FOR WATER EXTRACTION
I refer to the proposal to take an additional 45 gigalitres of water from the southern Yarragadee aquifer. (1) What is the expected drop in watertables in the south west as a result of this proposal? (2) What is the expected ingress of sea water? (3) What deleterious effects could these actions result in? (4) What monitoring programs will the minister put in place to ensure environmental safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
(1) What is the expected drop in watertables in the south west as a result of this proposal? (2) What is the expected ingress of sea water? (3) What deleterious effects could these actions result in? (4) What monitoring programs will the minister put in place to ensure environmental safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
(2) What is the expected ingress of sea water? (3) What deleterious effects could these actions result in? (4) What monitoring programs will the minister put in place to ensure environmental safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
(3) What deleterious effects could these actions result in? (4) What monitoring programs will the minister put in place to ensure environmental safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
(4) What monitoring programs will the minister put in place to ensure environmental safety? Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
I thank the member for Capel for his question. (1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.
(1)-(4) As the member would be very well aware, as part of the process two important reports have already been released regarding the southern Yarragadee aquifer, including the Environmental Protection Authority report that was released early last year and the sustainability panel’s report that was released only recently. I am, of course, according to due process, waiting for the report from the independent Appeals Convenor. Clearly, when I receive that report, I will consider it before determining my decision. As the member would be very well aware, the issues that he has raised and that have been raised today in the public meeting outside this place, which I attended, will all be considered in regard to this very important issue. I will not pre-empt the independent Appeals Convener’s report. It is not appropriate for me to comment on this important issue until I have received that report.

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