❓ Mr. Bowler asks about water security measures for Perth and Kalgoorlie following the desalination plant expansion. Mr. Marmion responds, highlighting the government's commitment to drought-proofing the region through desalination, recycling, and groundwater replenishment, while also criticizing the opposition's stance on desalination.
AnsweredQoN 426Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER — DESALINATION
I note that over the winter break the minister doubled the production of the southern seawater desalination plant from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres of water annually. Can the minister advise the house on what steps the state government is taking to provide water security for not only Perth, but also towns such as Kalgoorlie? Mr W.R. MARMION
I note that over the winter break the minister doubled the production of the southern seawater desalination plant from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres of water annually. Can the minister advise the house on what steps the state government is taking to provide water security for not only Perth, but also towns such as Kalgoorlie? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the excellent question. Members know that the integrated water supply scheme extends to Kalgoorlie–Boulder. It supplies water to Perth, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Mandurah and all the towns in between. It is an important water supply scheme for Western Australia. This government has made an important and responsible decision, based on water security, to drought-proof the metropolitan area and all the towns along the integrated water supply scheme for the future. Why did we make that decision? It is because the dams are only about 27 per cent full. The amount of water they hold is less than it was at the same time last year, and everyone knows that last year was one of our driest winters on record. This government made a responsible decision about water security for the people of Western Australia. The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the excellent question. Members know that the integrated water supply scheme extends to Kalgoorlie–Boulder. It supplies water to Perth, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Mandurah and all the towns in between. It is an important water supply scheme for Western Australia. This government has made an important and responsible decision, based on water security, to drought-proof the metropolitan area and all the towns along the integrated water supply scheme for the future. Why did we make that decision? It is because the dams are only about 27 per cent full. The amount of water they hold is less than it was at the same time last year, and everyone knows that last year was one of our driest winters on record. This government made a responsible decision about water security for the people of Western Australia. The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the excellent question. Members know that the integrated water supply scheme extends to Kalgoorlie–Boulder. It supplies water to Perth, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Mandurah and all the towns in between. It is an important water supply scheme for Western Australia. This government has made an important and responsible decision, based on water security, to drought-proof the metropolitan area and all the towns along the integrated water supply scheme for the future. Why did we make that decision? It is because the dams are only about 27 per cent full. The amount of water they hold is less than it was at the same time last year, and everyone knows that last year was one of our driest winters on record. This government made a responsible decision about water security for the people of Western Australia. The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the excellent question. Members know that the integrated water supply scheme extends to Kalgoorlie–Boulder. It supplies water to Perth, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Mandurah and all the towns in between. It is an important water supply scheme for Western Australia. This government has made an important and responsible decision, based on water security, to drought-proof the metropolitan area and all the towns along the integrated water supply scheme for the future. Why did we make that decision? It is because the dams are only about 27 per cent full. The amount of water they hold is less than it was at the same time last year, and everyone knows that last year was one of our driest winters on record. This government made a responsible decision about water security for the people of Western Australia. The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the excellent question. Members know that the integrated water supply scheme extends to Kalgoorlie–Boulder. It supplies water to Perth, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Mandurah and all the towns in between. It is an important water supply scheme for Western Australia. This government has made an important and responsible decision, based on water security, to drought-proof the metropolitan area and all the towns along the integrated water supply scheme for the future. Why did we make that decision? It is because the dams are only about 27 per cent full. The amount of water they hold is less than it was at the same time last year, and everyone knows that last year was one of our driest winters on record. This government made a responsible decision about water security for the people of Western Australia. The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The cost of this project is $450 million. That will be funded by $150 million of Water Corporation borrowings and by reprioritising $300 million of Water Corp’s $3.6 billion capital works project. Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What will go missing from Water Corp’s capital works project? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : The money will be well spent, guaranteeing water supply security for the people of Perth, Mandurah, the Goldfields and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We will be asking you about that. Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : There will be no cuts to the capital works program. Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Our water security plan includes not only the desalination plant, but also using recycled water for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial uses; reducing water use through efficiency programs for householders, industry and schools; the replenishment of groundwater through the Beenyup plant by treating high-quality water and recharging the aquifer; better catchment management to get an increase of surface water run-off into our dams; and developing new groundwater sources. This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
This government has a consistent policy on the provision of water, as opposed to members on the other side of the house. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition supports desalination. Unfortunately, the opposition’s water spokesperson is not in the house, but I see that there is a conflict; sometimes I hear him supporting desalination, but we have a quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson in which he suggests that desalination — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I would like to hear from the Minister for Water. Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
Mr W.R. MARMION : The quote from the opposition’s water spokesperson was that desalination is environmentally criminal. One of the spin-off benefits of increasing the desalination capacity of Western Australia from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres and now to 150 billion litres is that 50 per cent of our water supply will be climate independent. What does that mean? It means that there will be less take on the Gnangara mound. That is a very environmentally responsible decision. This government is making the hard and good decisions for the security of the water supply for Western Australians.
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