❓ Premier Gallop outlines the government's plan to involve the community in developing a water strategy through forums and a symposium, alongside initiatives like expanding the Yarragadee bore program, emphasizing both water supply and demand management.
AnsweredQoN 901Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
What is the Government doing to involve the community in the development of its water strategy? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is pleasing that we finally received some rain. I could make some biblical-type references to my leadership on the water issue last week, but I will resist that temptation. The Perth metropolitan area received 7.6 millimetres of rain overnight and 52.2 millimetres since nine o’clock this morning. Unfortunately for our dams, the heaviest falls were over the coastal plain and did not occur so much over the hills catchment areas. I remind all members that we cannot be complacent about this important issue. The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
Dr GALLOP replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is pleasing that we finally received some rain. I could make some biblical-type references to my leadership on the water issue last week, but I will resist that temptation. The Perth metropolitan area received 7.6 millimetres of rain overnight and 52.2 millimetres since nine o’clock this morning. Unfortunately for our dams, the heaviest falls were over the coastal plain and did not occur so much over the hills catchment areas. I remind all members that we cannot be complacent about this important issue. The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is pleasing that we finally received some rain. I could make some biblical-type references to my leadership on the water issue last week, but I will resist that temptation. The Perth metropolitan area received 7.6 millimetres of rain overnight and 52.2 millimetres since nine o’clock this morning. Unfortunately for our dams, the heaviest falls were over the coastal plain and did not occur so much over the hills catchment areas. I remind all members that we cannot be complacent about this important issue. The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
Dr GALLOP replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is pleasing that we finally received some rain. I could make some biblical-type references to my leadership on the water issue last week, but I will resist that temptation. The Perth metropolitan area received 7.6 millimetres of rain overnight and 52.2 millimetres since nine o’clock this morning. Unfortunately for our dams, the heaviest falls were over the coastal plain and did not occur so much over the hills catchment areas. I remind all members that we cannot be complacent about this important issue. The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is pleasing that we finally received some rain. I could make some biblical-type references to my leadership on the water issue last week, but I will resist that temptation. The Perth metropolitan area received 7.6 millimetres of rain overnight and 52.2 millimetres since nine o’clock this morning. Unfortunately for our dams, the heaviest falls were over the coastal plain and did not occur so much over the hills catchment areas. I remind all members that we cannot be complacent about this important issue. The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
The Government is committed to addressing the water shortage in Western Australia. Last week I announced a $37 million program to add another two bores to the one that is currently in place at Yarragadee. Once those bores are at 800 metres below the surface, they will be down forever for Western Australia’s needs. The Government is further investigating the capacity of the Yarragadee aquifer. Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
Last week I also said I would be unveiling more components of the Government’s long-term strategy. I announce today that we will be involving the community in this State’s water strategy. Members would be aware that one half of our water strategy - demand management - cannot succeed unless there is cooperation with the community. In July and August this year the Government will be running a series of water forums in the community. These forums will be conducted in the metropolitan area and in regional centres, and will be co-hosted by the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission. These forums will provide an opportunity for the community to have a say on how it thinks water supply and water demand should be managed from a community perspective. It will give the community an opportunity to put ideas to government. The feedback from these forums will be fed into a symposium to be held in October. That symposium will bring together experts in the fields of water supply, climate change, hydrology, salinity and demand management, and it will help the Government refine its water strategy. I will be announcing the dates of the forums and the symposium in forthcoming weeks. The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
The Government intends to deal with this issue on a comprehensive basis. As you know, Mr Speaker, we have already taken a series of initiatives to help address this question. Last week I announced the extension of the bores at Yarragadee, and that the Water and Rivers Commission has approved the use of that water for the next three years. Today I am announcing a series of forums to be followed by a symposium in October. There are two sides to this equation - the supply of water and the demand for water - and both must be addressed. If we are to address the issue we must involve the community in the debate. Western Australia now has a Government that has a comprehensive strategy for dealing with this issue. The Government understands that it is not enough just to build a dam and a pipeline. A much more comprehensive strategy is needed. Not only has it at last rained in Western Australia but also the Government is committed to a comprehensive strategy with the vision and ability to carry it out.
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