❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the use of potable water by resource companies in the Pilbara for dust suppression, seeking potential amendments to State Agreements to prioritize drinking water for residential development. The government acknowledges the issue and ongoing dialogue with companies.
AnsweredQoN 4356Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to the State Agreements operating in the Pilbara, I ask:
(a) which of these Agreements provide for resource companies to use potable water for dust suppression; and
(b) will the Government give consideration to urgently seeking amendments to these Agreements in order to protect the drinking water of the Pilbara so that it is available for the expanding residential development needs of the towns and communities of the region; and
(i) if not, why not?
(a) which of these Agreements provide for resource companies to use potable water for dust suppression; and
(b) will the Government give consideration to urgently seeking amendments to these Agreements in order to protect the drinking water of the Pilbara so that it is available for the expanding residential development needs of the towns and communities of the region; and
(i) if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
85 days
Department of State Development advises:
(a) All State Agreements relevant to iron ore production in the Pilbara allow the company to source water for its needs, subject to obtaining the necessary permits and approvals to do so. BHP Billiton's McCamey's Monster and the Goldsworthy-Nimingarra Agreements specify the use of non-potable water and saline water, respectively, as far as practicable. The supply of water to the Dampier region from the Millstream area for use by Hamersley Iron and the Robe River Joint Venture is managed under a Water Agreement entered into between Hamersley Iron and the State in 1970. This water source is also used for general non-Agreement purposes in the Karratha-Dampier communities. The Iron Ore (Mount Bruce) Agreement Act 1972, which is not yet an operating project, requires the company to design its plant and facilities to use, as far as is practicable, non-potable water. The other Rio Tinto State Agreements do not specify the quality of the water to be used for the company's operations.
(b) Amendments to State Agreements require the agreement of both parties. Relevant government agencies are engaging in a cooperative dialogue with the major iron ore companies and the Department of Water in relation to the companies' current and future water needs and source options for dust suppression in the Pilbara.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a) All State Agreements relevant to iron ore production in the Pilbara allow the company to source water for its needs, subject to obtaining the necessary permits and approvals to do so. BHP Billiton's McCamey's Monster and the Goldsworthy-Nimingarra Agreements specify the use of non-potable water and saline water, respectively, as far as practicable. The supply of water to the Dampier region from the Millstream area for use by Hamersley Iron and the Robe River Joint Venture is managed under a Water Agreement entered into between Hamersley Iron and the State in 1970. This water source is also used for general non-Agreement purposes in the Karratha-Dampier communities. The Iron Ore (Mount Bruce) Agreement Act 1972, which is not yet an operating project, requires the company to design its plant and facilities to use, as far as is practicable, non-potable water. The other Rio Tinto State Agreements do not specify the quality of the water to be used for the company's operations.
(b) Amendments to State Agreements require the agreement of both parties. Relevant government agencies are engaging in a cooperative dialogue with the major iron ore companies and the Department of Water in relation to the companies' current and future water needs and source options for dust suppression in the Pilbara.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.