❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on water extraction permits and water levels in the South West Yarragadee aquifer, raising concerns about sustainability. The response provides data on allocations, extraction rates, and the impact of rainfall and abstraction on water levels.
AnsweredQoN 4762Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Further to question without notice No. 91 of 2007, in relation to the South West Yarragadee aquifer, I ask -
(1) What is the total amount of water for which extraction permits have already been granted?
(2) What amount of water is currently being extracted?
(3) Is this level of extraction contributing to the decline in the water level recorded since 2001?
(4) What is the total amount of water for which applications for extraction permits have been submitted but not granted?
(5) If the Water Corporation’s proposal to extract an additional 45 GL a year is not approved, will the permits referred to in question (4), be granted despite the falling water level?
(1) What is the total amount of water for which extraction permits have already been granted?
(2) What amount of water is currently being extracted?
(3) Is this level of extraction contributing to the decline in the water level recorded since 2001?
(4) What is the total amount of water for which applications for extraction permits have been submitted but not granted?
(5) If the Water Corporation’s proposal to extract an additional 45 GL a year is not approved, will the permits referred to in question (4), be granted despite the falling water level?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2007
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water Resources
Response time
28 days
(1) As of 1 May 2007, total allocations from the Yarragadee aquifer are 83.5 GL/yr. This has been reduced from the initial 90GL/yr through the Department of Water's recent recouping activities. The current allocations consists of 75GL/yr licensed entitlements and 8.5 Gl/yr in reserved water for future public water supply. (2) Estimated current abstraction for the South West Yarragadee aquifer is 45 gigalitres a year. Work will be carried out by the DoW to improve the understanding of unused allocations. (3) Declines in some water levels across the region have been registered. These are due to a combination of a reduction in rainfall recharge and current local water abstractions, among other impacts. Water levels in some aquifers have declined to some extent in response to low annual rainfall since 2001. (4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(2) Estimated current abstraction for the South West Yarragadee aquifer is 45 gigalitres a year. Work will be carried out by the DoW to improve the understanding of unused allocations. (3) Declines in some water levels across the region have been registered. These are due to a combination of a reduction in rainfall recharge and current local water abstractions, among other impacts. Water levels in some aquifers have declined to some extent in response to low annual rainfall since 2001. (4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(3) Declines in some water levels across the region have been registered. These are due to a combination of a reduction in rainfall recharge and current local water abstractions, among other impacts. Water levels in some aquifers have declined to some extent in response to low annual rainfall since 2001. (4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(2) Estimated current abstraction for the South West Yarragadee aquifer is 45 gigalitres a year. Work will be carried out by the DoW to improve the understanding of unused allocations. (3) Declines in some water levels across the region have been registered. These are due to a combination of a reduction in rainfall recharge and current local water abstractions, among other impacts. Water levels in some aquifers have declined to some extent in response to low annual rainfall since 2001. (4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(3) Declines in some water levels across the region have been registered. These are due to a combination of a reduction in rainfall recharge and current local water abstractions, among other impacts. Water levels in some aquifers have declined to some extent in response to low annual rainfall since 2001. (4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(4) Since 2001 there have been applications for 7.5 gigalitres for private abstraction, and a further 7 gigalitres for public water supply from the Yarragadee for use within the region. The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
The Water Corporation's proposal of 45 gigalitres of water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer for integration into the Integrated Water Supply System was submitted in 2002. All of the submitted applications are in various stages of assessment by the DoW. (5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
(5) If the 45 gigalitres a year application by the Corporation is not successful, there is no guarantee that all other applications for water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer will be granted. Each application submitted requires individual assessment on its merits by the DoW, including acceptability of any impact on local water levels.
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