❓ Question regarding prioritising Wellington Dam as a water source over building a third desalination plant. The Minister acknowledges Wellington Dam's potential but avoids commitment, citing future uncertainties and industrial water demands.
AnsweredQoN 285Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER SUPPLIES - WELLINGTON DAM OPTION
First, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of the students visiting from Como Primary School, in the electorate of the member for South Perth. I refer to the previous question from the member for Collie-Wellington and to the report that the minister referred to and tabled today - namely, that on water source options in the Collie-Wellington basin - which shows clearly that obtaining potable water from Wellington Dam for the integrated water supply system is achievable. I also refer to the minister’s statements, and I think the Premier’s statements also, that further desalination plants for the south west of Western Australia will be considered. Will the minister now commit to proceeding with the Wellington Dam option prior to building a third desalination plant? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
First, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of the students visiting from Como Primary School, in the electorate of the member for South Perth. I refer to the previous question from the member for Collie-Wellington and to the report that the minister referred to and tabled today - namely, that on water source options in the Collie-Wellington basin - which shows clearly that obtaining potable water from Wellington Dam for the integrated water supply system is achievable. I also refer to the minister’s statements, and I think the Premier’s statements also, that further desalination plants for the south west of Western Australia will be considered. Will the minister now commit to proceeding with the Wellington Dam option prior to building a third desalination plant? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
I refer to the previous question from the member for Collie-Wellington and to the report that the minister referred to and tabled today - namely, that on water source options in the Collie-Wellington basin - which shows clearly that obtaining potable water from Wellington Dam for the integrated water supply system is achievable. I also refer to the minister’s statements, and I think the Premier’s statements also, that further desalination plants for the south west of Western Australia will be considered. Will the minister now commit to proceeding with the Wellington Dam option prior to building a third desalination plant? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
I refer to the previous question from the member for Collie-Wellington and to the report that the minister referred to and tabled today - namely, that on water source options in the Collie-Wellington basin - which shows clearly that obtaining potable water from Wellington Dam for the integrated water supply system is achievable. I also refer to the minister’s statements, and I think the Premier’s statements also, that further desalination plants for the south west of Western Australia will be considered. Will the minister now commit to proceeding with the Wellington Dam option prior to building a third desalination plant? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
The issue is how we can provide water in the most reliable and cheapest way. On current indications, the Wellington Dam is a very good prospect. Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.H.D. Day : And taking into account the energy consumption. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Absolutely. I cannot give an undertaking at this stage, because it will be four years - hopefully, a bit less - before the second desalination plant near Binningup is constructed. We need to plan some years into the future beyond that. Clearly, whether a third major source will be another five or 10 years beyond that will depend on how much rainfall we receive and the growth in the population and the economy. In that time frame, it is quite likely that Wellington will have been remediated as a result of the diversion we are doing. Some parts of the project may already be in place, such as desalination out of the mine void for industry. Clearly, it would then be a prospect. However, we need to keep in mind that these things change over time. Currently, there is clear industry demand from the power generation industry. It needs more water than it has at the moment. There are also big demands for water from the alumina industry. The whole Kemerton Industrial Park has no water. We may find that industrial demand is the driver and that that water will be better used for industrial purposes. However, all of those things are really speculative. Our primary concern at the moment is water for the integrated water supply scheme. Clearly, that is the point of the question. We will be looking to make sure that we can bring on further sources after the second desalination plant is constructed. However, bearing in mind the time scale that is involved, we need to also check what the needs of industry will be and what the needs of irrigators will be. Those irrigators have a major right to this water at the moment. However, they are very innovative and have already been willing to trade water. Therefore, we could potentially trade water from them. However, that will add to the price stated in the report, because the report gives the price of production, not the price at which we would have to buy that water from the Harvey Water irrigators in order to then put it through the scheme in Perth. However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
However, it is a very good question. What will come after desal 2? We will certainly be doing a lot of work so that we have options available. Water from the Wellington Dam, in the Collie area, is clearly one of those prospects that we need to do a lot of work on, and we will.
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