❓ Question regarding the progress of the Beenyup Groundwater Replenishment Scheme and the Minister's detailed response outlining the project's progress, community engagement, and future stages.
AnsweredQoN 83Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BEENYUP GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT SCHEME —
PROGRESS
83. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Water:
I understand that work has started on the first stage of the
advanced groundwater replenishment scheme at Beenyup in my electorate. With
this in mind, could the Minister for Water advise the house on the progress of
this important initiative to secure Perth's water supply?
Mr
F.M. Logan : How many times has it been announced?
PROGRESS
83. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Water:
I understand that work has started on the first stage of the
advanced groundwater replenishment scheme at Beenyup in my electorate. With
this in mind, could the Minister for Water advise the house on the progress of
this important initiative to secure Perth's water supply?
Mr
F.M. Logan : How many times has it been announced?
AnswerView source ↗
It is a very exciting project,
member for Cockburn, and I thank the member for Joondalup for the question.
Before I begin to answer the
question, I acknowledge Jan and David Horsley and John and Fran Rak from the
Northam Rotary Club in the public gallery this afternoon. We had a lovely
lunch.
I thank the member for the question
because it is a very exciting project, and that is why the government is keen
to continue to update the house on its progress. Groundwater replenishment is
the next important step in our efforts to create a climate–independent
water supply for Perth, and we are well underway already. WA is the first state
in Australia to introduce this technology, which already has been adopted
successfully overseas. The innovative process involves treating wastewater to
drinking water standards by undergoing natural filtration underground for up to
three decades before extraction. I remember the former Minister for Water
visited the plant.
Mr
D.T. Redman : He drank some.
Ms M.J. DAVIES : He
did drink some! I have visited the plant, but I have not yet had the
opportunity to drink any of the water, but I would be very happy to if the
opportunity arises.
By the time the water is extracted, it will have been mixed
in the same way as any other groundwater in the aquifer. Part of the
groundwater replenishment trial began recharging recycled water into the
Leederville aquifer in November 2010. Three years on we have recharged more
than three billion litres of recycled water, which is a marvellous effort. More
than 60 000 water quality tests have been undertaken and the water has met the
most stringent health and environmental guidelines. Because we understand the
community is very interested and cautious when we start to talk about recycled
wastewater, the Water Corporation has worked very closely with the community to
make sure that there is enough awareness about the process and the science and
safety of using this water. We are confident that we have done good work with
the community in this process so that everyone is confident we are on the right
path.
On 1 August 2013, the Liberal–National government
announced the go-ahead for the full-scale groundwater replenishment scheme.
This government will invest $116 million on the first stage, which will
recharge seven billion litres of treated wastewater per year into the
groundwater system. We have already started work on that process. The work is
underway on installing the new bore, which will be 750 metres deep, and that is
going to be used to reinject water into the Yarragadee aquifer. That is
exceptionally deep. We have started that process; we know it is a big process.
It is underway. We are on track to commence construction for the full-scale
scheme in July this year. Stage 1 will be operational in the middle of 2016.
Stage 2 will increase production to 14 billion litres and is planned to be
online in 2018, and stage 3 will increase production to 28 billion litres in
2222.
It is a very large and complicated project. It has been an
extensive trial and extensive work was done prior to the project being
undertaken. The trial proved that the technology can be successfully applied in
WA. As members would understand, our underground structures are different from
other areas in the nation and internationally. Therefore, it was very important
that we did this before we went to the full-scale scheme. While the project is
under construction, we are continuing to recharge into the aquifer using the
trial plant —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Is this a major ministerial statement, is it?
Ms M.J. DAVIES : It
is a very important project, member, considering the amount of concern there is
about our water.
The SPEAKER :
Minister, through the Chair, please.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Ms M.J. DAVIES : I
am sorry, Mr Speaker, I will direct my comments to you. It is just one part of
the measures that this government and previous governments have undertaken to
droughtproof Perth and droughtproof those who are on an interactive water
system. It is a very important project and I am very happy to update the house
with that information.
member for Cockburn, and I thank the member for Joondalup for the question.
Before I begin to answer the
question, I acknowledge Jan and David Horsley and John and Fran Rak from the
Northam Rotary Club in the public gallery this afternoon. We had a lovely
lunch.
I thank the member for the question
because it is a very exciting project, and that is why the government is keen
to continue to update the house on its progress. Groundwater replenishment is
the next important step in our efforts to create a climate–independent
water supply for Perth, and we are well underway already. WA is the first state
in Australia to introduce this technology, which already has been adopted
successfully overseas. The innovative process involves treating wastewater to
drinking water standards by undergoing natural filtration underground for up to
three decades before extraction. I remember the former Minister for Water
visited the plant.
Mr
D.T. Redman : He drank some.
Ms M.J. DAVIES : He
did drink some! I have visited the plant, but I have not yet had the
opportunity to drink any of the water, but I would be very happy to if the
opportunity arises.
By the time the water is extracted, it will have been mixed
in the same way as any other groundwater in the aquifer. Part of the
groundwater replenishment trial began recharging recycled water into the
Leederville aquifer in November 2010. Three years on we have recharged more
than three billion litres of recycled water, which is a marvellous effort. More
than 60 000 water quality tests have been undertaken and the water has met the
most stringent health and environmental guidelines. Because we understand the
community is very interested and cautious when we start to talk about recycled
wastewater, the Water Corporation has worked very closely with the community to
make sure that there is enough awareness about the process and the science and
safety of using this water. We are confident that we have done good work with
the community in this process so that everyone is confident we are on the right
path.
On 1 August 2013, the Liberal–National government
announced the go-ahead for the full-scale groundwater replenishment scheme.
This government will invest $116 million on the first stage, which will
recharge seven billion litres of treated wastewater per year into the
groundwater system. We have already started work on that process. The work is
underway on installing the new bore, which will be 750 metres deep, and that is
going to be used to reinject water into the Yarragadee aquifer. That is
exceptionally deep. We have started that process; we know it is a big process.
It is underway. We are on track to commence construction for the full-scale
scheme in July this year. Stage 1 will be operational in the middle of 2016.
Stage 2 will increase production to 14 billion litres and is planned to be
online in 2018, and stage 3 will increase production to 28 billion litres in
2222.
It is a very large and complicated project. It has been an
extensive trial and extensive work was done prior to the project being
undertaken. The trial proved that the technology can be successfully applied in
WA. As members would understand, our underground structures are different from
other areas in the nation and internationally. Therefore, it was very important
that we did this before we went to the full-scale scheme. While the project is
under construction, we are continuing to recharge into the aquifer using the
trial plant —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Is this a major ministerial statement, is it?
Ms M.J. DAVIES : It
is a very important project, member, considering the amount of concern there is
about our water.
The SPEAKER :
Minister, through the Chair, please.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Ms M.J. DAVIES : I
am sorry, Mr Speaker, I will direct my comments to you. It is just one part of
the measures that this government and previous governments have undertaken to
droughtproof Perth and droughtproof those who are on an interactive water
system. It is a very important project and I am very happy to update the house
with that information.
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