Mr Hyde questions the need for accelerated environmental water assessments and allocation plans, and their locations. The answer highlights increasing water demand, COAG water reform, and lists areas where plans are being developed in consultation with various stakeholders.

AnsweredQoN 1134Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 October 2001
Member
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(b) why is there a need to accelerate environmental water assessments and allocation plans; and (c) where are these plans being prepared?
(c) where are these plans being prepared?
The role of the Committees is to have the community take an active role in the management of water, ensure that water resources related decisions are fair and equitable and increase community awareness of water resource issues. Under principles developed by the Water and Rivers Commission the Committees may develop local by-laws which optimise resource management to local conditions, eg, how water is shared in times of shortage. (b) The Western Australia Water Assessment 2000 report for the National Land and Water Resources Audit identified that water use in WA is likely to double in the next 20 years. There is a need to bring the level of environmental water assessments for some water resources up to the standards expected from the COAG water reform process to ensure the problems experienced through over-allocation of water in some eastern states do not occur here. The continuing strong growth in demand for water in the State requires corresponding management activity to ensure use remains within sustainable limits. (c) Plans are being prepared for high priority areas where there is a shortfall in the level of assessment, or where water use is approaching sustainable limits. The plans are prepared by the Water and Rivers Commission in consultation with a range of advisory committees, government and non-government agencies, and the general public. Plans and strategies in various stages of development or review are the Pilbara, La Grange, Goldfields, Jurien, Arrowsmith, Gingin, Cockburn, Rockingham, Busselton-Capel and Albany areas.
(b) The Western Australia Water Assessment 2000 report for the National Land and Water Resources Audit identified that water use in WA is likely to double in the next 20 years. There is a need to bring the level of environmental water assessments for some water resources up to the standards expected from the COAG water reform process to ensure the problems experienced through over-allocation of water in some eastern states do not occur here. The continuing strong growth in demand for water in the State requires corresponding management activity to ensure use remains within sustainable limits. (c) Plans are being prepared for high priority areas where there is a shortfall in the level of assessment, or where water use is approaching sustainable limits. The plans are prepared by the Water and Rivers Commission in consultation with a range of advisory committees, government and non-government agencies, and the general public. Plans and strategies in various stages of development or review are the Pilbara, La Grange, Goldfields, Jurien, Arrowsmith, Gingin, Cockburn, Rockingham, Busselton-Capel and Albany areas.
(c) Plans are being prepared for high priority areas where there is a shortfall in the level of assessment, or where water use is approaching sustainable limits. The plans are prepared by the Water and Rivers Commission in consultation with a range of advisory committees, government and non-government agencies, and the general public. Plans and strategies in various stages of development or review are the Pilbara, La Grange, Goldfields, Jurien, Arrowsmith, Gingin, Cockburn, Rockingham, Busselton-Capel and Albany areas.
Plans and strategies in various stages of development or review are the Pilbara, La Grange, Goldfields, Jurien, Arrowsmith, Gingin, Cockburn, Rockingham, Busselton-Capel and Albany areas.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
27 November 2001
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
42 days
(a) The purpose of the Water Resources Management Committees is to provide a means for community involvement in the management of water resources. The Committees will operate alongside the Commission to facilitate the development of plans and implementation of policy that promotes sustainable management of the State's water resources.
The role of the Committees is to have the community take an active role in the management of water, ensure that water resources related decisions are fair and equitable and increase community awareness of water resource issues. Under principles developed by the Water and Rivers Commission the Committees may develop local by-laws which optimise resource management to local conditions, eg, how water is shared in times of shortage.
(b) The
Western Australia Water Assessment 2000
report for the National Land and Water Resources Audit identified that water use in WA is likely to double in the next 20 years. There is a need to bring the level of environmental water assessments for some water resources up to the standards expected from the COAG water reform process to ensure the problems experienced through over-allocation of water in some eastern states do not occur here. The continuing strong growth in demand for water in the State requires corresponding management activity to ensure use remains within sustainable limits.
(c) Plans are being prepared for high priority areas where there is a shortfall in the level of assessment, or where water use is approaching sustainable limits. The plans are prepared by the Water and Rivers Commission in consultation with a range of advisory committees, government and non-government agencies, and the general public.
Plans and strategies in various stages of development or review are the Pilbara, La Grange, Goldfields, Jurien, Arrowsmith, Gingin, Cockburn, Rockingham, Busselton-Capel and Albany areas.

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