❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister for Water regarding the sustainability of groundwater resources in the West Canning Basin, particularly concerning environmental impacts, climate change, and consultation with Traditional Owners. The Minister's response indicates that while a potential resource has been identified, no decisions on increased allocation have been made and further assessment is planned.
AnsweredQoN 3907Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to recent statements made by the Minister in Parliament on 16 March 2016 regarding the identification of 100 gigalitres of sustainable,
high-quality groundwater in the West Canning Basin, and ask: (a) what proportion of the 10,000 square kilometre (sq km)
footprint referred to by the Minister in relation to the West Canning Basin
underlies the Fitzroy River catchment; (b) how many aquifers are included in this 10,000 sq
km footprint and what are their names; (c) how many, and which, of these aquifers are
replenished by surface water inflows; (d) how many, and which, of these aquifers discharge
water into rivers, streams, pools and wetlands during the dry season; (e) when the Minister stated that, “Up to this
point, we have proven up a sustainable 100 gigalitres of resource a year” from
this Basin, does the Minister mean that this water is now available for allocation to
industry or other users; (f) what assessment methodology, including
environmental and cultural impact assessment, was used to arrive at the figure
of 100 gigalitres of sustainable water; (g) was any independent advice or input sought in
arriving at this figure; (h) have the Traditional Owners of the lands
covering the West Canning Basin been advised of this potential new water
resource and its allocation; (i) will there be any open and transparent process
involving the public, Traditional Owners and independent experts before any
allocations of this water are made; (j) if no to (i), why not; (k) is the Minister aware of recent reports from the
Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation highlighting the impacts of climate change on
northern Australia, including the Kimberley-West Canning, which conclude that it
is likely there will be higher temperatures, more extreme weather events (for example, heatwaves, floods), greater variability in rainfall and increased evaporation; (l) has this climate change information been used in
arriving at the 100 gigalitres of sustainable water figure; (m) if yes to (l), how has it been incorporated; (n) if no to (l), why not; (o) is the Minister aware of the severe drought currently
affecting large parts of the Fitzroy River/West Canning area; (p) has this drought and the potential for such
droughts to be more common in the future been incorporated into the calculation
of the 100 gigalitres of sustainable water; (q) if yes to (p), in what way; and (r) if no to (p), why not?
high-quality groundwater in the West Canning Basin, and ask: (a) what proportion of the 10,000 square kilometre (sq km)
footprint referred to by the Minister in relation to the West Canning Basin
underlies the Fitzroy River catchment; (b) how many aquifers are included in this 10,000 sq
km footprint and what are their names; (c) how many, and which, of these aquifers are
replenished by surface water inflows; (d) how many, and which, of these aquifers discharge
water into rivers, streams, pools and wetlands during the dry season; (e) when the Minister stated that, “Up to this
point, we have proven up a sustainable 100 gigalitres of resource a year” from
this Basin, does the Minister mean that this water is now available for allocation to
industry or other users; (f) what assessment methodology, including
environmental and cultural impact assessment, was used to arrive at the figure
of 100 gigalitres of sustainable water; (g) was any independent advice or input sought in
arriving at this figure; (h) have the Traditional Owners of the lands
covering the West Canning Basin been advised of this potential new water
resource and its allocation; (i) will there be any open and transparent process
involving the public, Traditional Owners and independent experts before any
allocations of this water are made; (j) if no to (i), why not; (k) is the Minister aware of recent reports from the
Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation highlighting the impacts of climate change on
northern Australia, including the Kimberley-West Canning, which conclude that it
is likely there will be higher temperatures, more extreme weather events (for example, heatwaves, floods), greater variability in rainfall and increased evaporation; (l) has this climate change information been used in
arriving at the 100 gigalitres of sustainable water figure; (m) if yes to (l), how has it been incorporated; (n) if no to (l), why not; (o) is the Minister aware of the severe drought currently
affecting large parts of the Fitzroy River/West Canning area; (p) has this drought and the potential for such
droughts to be more common in the future been incorporated into the calculation
of the 100 gigalitres of sustainable water; (q) if yes to (p), in what way; and (r) if no to (p), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 May 2016
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Water
Response time
56 days
(a) None (b) Two – the shallow Broome aquifer and the deeper, artesian Wallal aquifer. (c) None (d) Two – the Broome and Wallal aquifers. (e) No (f) The current groundwater allocation limit of 50 gigalitres per year was determined following Department of Water and private hydrogeological investigations, including the work undertaken in preparation of the Pilbara Groundwater Allocation Plan 2013, using flow data from bore completions (both Government and private) prior to 2012, and supported by water chemistry data. Bores drilled since 2012 have been incorporated into the ongoing analysis and the modelling for the current study. (g) No (h) Yes (i) Yes (j) Not applicable (k) Yes (l) No decision has been made to increase the allocation limit for the Wallal aquifer in the West Canning Basin. However, climate information, seasonal variation and drought risk will be assessed through the aquifer modelling and review of the allocation limit. (m) Not applicable. (n) Not applicable (o) Yes (p) No decision has been made to increase the allocation limit for the Wallal aquifer in the West Canning Basin. However, climate information, seasonal variation and drought risk will be assessed through the aquifer modelling and review of the allocation limit. (q) Not applicable (r) Not applicable
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