❓ Mr. Redman inquires about water monitoring costs and confidence levels in water flow data for allocation decisions in the Manjimup Pemberton region. The Minister provides cost breakdowns for different monitoring sites and expresses confidence in data across all sub-catchments.
AnsweredQoN 5786Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Manjimup Pemberton region and water monitoring sites that are used to gather water flow data for the purposes of making informed water allocation decisions, and I ask: (a) What are the various types of water monitoring sites used by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation: (i) What is the capital cost of establishing each of these water monitoring sites; and (ii) What is the annual operating cost of each of these water monitoring sites; (b) If not mentioned above, what are the capital and operating costs of a monitoring site with real time connectivity utilising mobile platforms such as those used in Tasmania; and (c) Will the Minister outline for each of the sub-catchments the respective confidence his agencies have in available water flow data as a predictor of allocation assessments.: (i) Which sub-catchments does the department have a high level of confidence in water flow data and therefore a high level of confidence in licence allocations it makes; (ii) Which sub-catchments does the department have a low level of confidence in water flow data and therefore takes a very conservative approach to water license allocations; and (iii) Which sub-catchments would benefit from more water monitoring and would likely yield higher allocation limits if this was done?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Minister for Water
Response time
5 days
(a) Types of monitoring sites are:
· Permanent site – measures stream flow, electrical conductivity and/or rainfall
· Project site – measures stream flow, or just stage height and/or electrical conductivity
(i) Permanent site – ranges from $20 000 to $300 000, with variation of costs depending on site conditions, data collected and accuracy of data required.
Project site – approximately $2000.
(ii) Costs range between $1500 and $26 580 depending on site conditions, instrumentation and visitations.
(b) Permanent sites – Satellite telemetry is approximately $7000, Next G telemetry is approximately $3000. Telemetry is only used in conjunction with permanent sites due to technology constraints. Most permanent sites are telemetered, and these technology costs and operating costs are included in the total costs range provided in the answer to question (a).
(c)
(i) All sub-catchments
(ii) None
(iii) None
· Permanent site – measures stream flow, electrical conductivity and/or rainfall
· Project site – measures stream flow, or just stage height and/or electrical conductivity
(i) Permanent site – ranges from $20 000 to $300 000, with variation of costs depending on site conditions, data collected and accuracy of data required.
Project site – approximately $2000.
(ii) Costs range between $1500 and $26 580 depending on site conditions, instrumentation and visitations.
(b) Permanent sites – Satellite telemetry is approximately $7000, Next G telemetry is approximately $3000. Telemetry is only used in conjunction with permanent sites due to technology constraints. Most permanent sites are telemetered, and these technology costs and operating costs are included in the total costs range provided in the answer to question (a).
(c)
(i) All sub-catchments
(ii) None
(iii) None
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