❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding the Gnangara Mound Metering Project, focusing on water extraction, metering effectiveness, data management, and project costs. The Minister's response provides clarification on metering coverage, water usage, and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 3686Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the responses to question on notice Nos 2651 and 2851, and ask -
(1) Given the Gnangara Mound Metering Project has seen roughly 10 percent of the licensed bores on the Gnangara mound be metered, and given that the project found that over the period 2006-07to 2009-10, a total of 10.9 gigalitres was extracted over the licensed allocation of the bores being metered, is it reasonable to conclude that over the entire mound, extraction of water in excess of licenced allocations during the four years of the project was likely to have been more than 100 gigalitres, in other words, 100 million kilolitres?
(2) If no to (1), -
(a) why not; and
(b) what is a more likely estimate, based on the results from the bores that were metered?
(3) Given the cost of implementing the four-year Gnangara Mound Metering Project was $8.3 million, does the Government believe that these calculations indicate significant potential value-for money to be gained in metering all licenced bores on the mound as a first step to ensuring licenced allocations are not exceeded?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Given the Gnangara Groundwater Areas Allocation Plan, dated November 2009, states that the Department of Water, ‘needs to measure actual groundwater use to accurately understand the impacts of abstraction’, what are the Government’s intentions in regards to rolling out metering to all licenced bores on the Gnangara mound?
(6) Is data from the meters at the present time still being recorded and collated on an ongoing basis?
(7) If yes to (6), -
(a) by whom; and
(b) where is this data being stored?
(8) If no to (6), given the Gnangara Groundwater Areas Allocation Plan states that data collected through the Metering Project will be used to form the 2012 Gnangara allocation plan, how will any discontinuation of the Metering Project affect the production of the 2012 allocation plan?
(9) Has a full report on the four-year, $8.3 million Project been written?
(10) If yes to (9), where is it publicly available?
(11) Given the $8.3 million cost of the Gnangara Mound Metering Project to June 2010 includes $5 million for hardware, what is now being done to service and maintain these Government-owned assets?
(12) Has all the money allocated from Federal agencies for this project been spent?
(13) If no to (12), how much remains unspent?
(1) Given the Gnangara Mound Metering Project has seen roughly 10 percent of the licensed bores on the Gnangara mound be metered, and given that the project found that over the period 2006-07to 2009-10, a total of 10.9 gigalitres was extracted over the licensed allocation of the bores being metered, is it reasonable to conclude that over the entire mound, extraction of water in excess of licenced allocations during the four years of the project was likely to have been more than 100 gigalitres, in other words, 100 million kilolitres?
(2) If no to (1), -
(a) why not; and
(b) what is a more likely estimate, based on the results from the bores that were metered?
(3) Given the cost of implementing the four-year Gnangara Mound Metering Project was $8.3 million, does the Government believe that these calculations indicate significant potential value-for money to be gained in metering all licenced bores on the mound as a first step to ensuring licenced allocations are not exceeded?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Given the Gnangara Groundwater Areas Allocation Plan, dated November 2009, states that the Department of Water, ‘needs to measure actual groundwater use to accurately understand the impacts of abstraction’, what are the Government’s intentions in regards to rolling out metering to all licenced bores on the Gnangara mound?
(6) Is data from the meters at the present time still being recorded and collated on an ongoing basis?
(7) If yes to (6), -
(a) by whom; and
(b) where is this data being stored?
(8) If no to (6), given the Gnangara Groundwater Areas Allocation Plan states that data collected through the Metering Project will be used to form the 2012 Gnangara allocation plan, how will any discontinuation of the Metering Project affect the production of the 2012 allocation plan?
(9) Has a full report on the four-year, $8.3 million Project been written?
(10) If yes to (9), where is it publicly available?
(11) Given the $8.3 million cost of the Gnangara Mound Metering Project to June 2010 includes $5 million for hardware, what is now being done to service and maintain these Government-owned assets?
(12) Has all the money allocated from Federal agencies for this project been spent?
(13) If no to (12), how much remains unspent?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Water
Response time
29 days
The Minister for Water has provided the following response:
(1) No
(2a) In addition to the State owned water meters on the Gnangara Mound there are privately owned water meters, for example, the Water Corporation, most local Government authorities, State Government schools and golf courses. In total 26 per cent of the licensed bores are metered, representing 66 per cent of the allocated groundwater.
(b) Available data suggests that overall usage on the Gnangara Mound is within the total licensed allocation of 277.3 gigalitres per year.
(3) Yes. Data from the metering project provides vital information for compliance activities, and also informs decision making and planning for the resource. However, alternative methods for ensuring compliance with licensed allocations are also utilised. The metering program targeted those larger water users with licences in excess of 5,000 kilolitres per year, and the water use sectors where management of water use by other methods was not practical (eg irrigated agriculture),
(4) Not applicable
(5) Metering of licensed bores will be rolled out if funds are available. In the meantime, alternative methods for ensuring compliance with licensed allocations are also utilised.
(6) Yes
(7a) The Department of Water (DoW).
(b) The Metering Data is being stored in the DoW's Water Information System.
(8) Not applicable
(9-10) No, however drafting of a Project Report has commenced, and the Minister for Water will advise the Honourable Member when the report is available.
(11) The DoW has been regularly maintaining the State owned meters when faults are found. Also an asset condition assessment program is under way. This will inform the development and implementation of an asset management program for the meters.
(12) No resources have been provided by the Commonwealth Government to the State Government for metering of private water use.
(13) Not applicable
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(1) No
(2a) In addition to the State owned water meters on the Gnangara Mound there are privately owned water meters, for example, the Water Corporation, most local Government authorities, State Government schools and golf courses. In total 26 per cent of the licensed bores are metered, representing 66 per cent of the allocated groundwater.
(b) Available data suggests that overall usage on the Gnangara Mound is within the total licensed allocation of 277.3 gigalitres per year.
(3) Yes. Data from the metering project provides vital information for compliance activities, and also informs decision making and planning for the resource. However, alternative methods for ensuring compliance with licensed allocations are also utilised. The metering program targeted those larger water users with licences in excess of 5,000 kilolitres per year, and the water use sectors where management of water use by other methods was not practical (eg irrigated agriculture),
(4) Not applicable
(5) Metering of licensed bores will be rolled out if funds are available. In the meantime, alternative methods for ensuring compliance with licensed allocations are also utilised.
(6) Yes
(7a) The Department of Water (DoW).
(b) The Metering Data is being stored in the DoW's Water Information System.
(8) Not applicable
(9-10) No, however drafting of a Project Report has commenced, and the Minister for Water will advise the Honourable Member when the report is available.
(11) The DoW has been regularly maintaining the State owned meters when faults are found. Also an asset condition assessment program is under way. This will inform the development and implementation of an asset management program for the meters.
(12) No resources have been provided by the Commonwealth Government to the State Government for metering of private water use.
(13) Not applicable
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
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