❓ A parliamentary question regarding the environmental impacts of the South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development, specifically concerning water levels, seawater intrusion, creek flows, and potential compensation for farmers. The Minister's response disputes the severity of the predicted impacts based on the Department of Water's modelling.
AnsweredQoN 3498Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development Environmental Review and Management Program (ERMP) and ask -
(1) Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable that the environmental impacts will cause water levels in existing wells on Swan and Scott coastal plains to drop the water table up to three metres?
(2) Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable that the sea water interface at Bunbury, where the aquifer flows into the sea, will move up to 400 metres inland, affecting bores within one kilometre of the coast?
(3) Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that the summer flow in Poison Valley and Milyeannup Brook will drop 30 per cent and areas of the creek will stop slowing, forcing fish, including rare species, into the lower reaches?
(4) Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that the water table around lakes Jasper and Quitjup will decrease 10-25cm after 30 years of pumping?
(5) Is the Government looking at any compensation to farmers as the water holes that exist now dry up because of the lowering of the water table on the Scott and Swan coastal plains by up to two metres over 30 years?
(1) Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable that the environmental impacts will cause water levels in existing wells on Swan and Scott coastal plains to drop the water table up to three metres?
(2) Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable that the sea water interface at Bunbury, where the aquifer flows into the sea, will move up to 400 metres inland, affecting bores within one kilometre of the coast?
(3) Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that the summer flow in Poison Valley and Milyeannup Brook will drop 30 per cent and areas of the creek will stop slowing, forcing fish, including rare species, into the lower reaches?
(4) Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that the water table around lakes Jasper and Quitjup will decrease 10-25cm after 30 years of pumping?
(5) Is the Government looking at any compensation to farmers as the water holes that exist now dry up because of the lowering of the water table on the Scott and Swan coastal plains by up to two metres over 30 years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 June 2006
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water Resources
Response time
35 days
(2)The latest DoW work shows that no bore will be impacted by the proposed Water Corporation's pumping. Any impacts in Bunbury will be local and not related to this proposal. (3) The Department of Water (DoW) has advised that summer flows are predicted to decrease by only 13 per cent. (4) This change is within limits for ecological water requirements. (5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(3) The Department of Water (DoW) has advised that summer flows are predicted to decrease by only 13 per cent. (4) This change is within limits for ecological water requirements. (5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(4) This change is within limits for ecological water requirements. (5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(3) The Department of Water (DoW) has advised that summer flows are predicted to decrease by only 13 per cent. (4) This change is within limits for ecological water requirements. (5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(4) This change is within limits for ecological water requirements. (5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
(5) No, the latest DoW modelling shows that any surface water holes will still be full at the end of each winter and unaffected by pumping from the Yarragadee.
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