❓ Mr Catania questions the Minister for Water on securing funding for Carnarvon flood mitigation, given WA residents pay a flood levy. The Minister details state commitment but expresses disappointment at lack of Commonwealth support.
AnsweredQoN 107Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CARNARVON — FLOOD MITIGATION WORK FUNDING
107. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Water:
Can the minister update the house on
efforts by the government to secure funding for flood mitigation works in
Carnarvon, especially when Western Australians are paying a flood levy to the
federal government?
107. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Water:
Can the minister update the house on
efforts by the government to secure funding for flood mitigation works in
Carnarvon, especially when Western Australians are paying a flood levy to the
federal government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West
for his question. I know he has rolled up his sleeves on this issue and he has
been a strong advocate for the people of Carnarvon.
We all remember the devastating
floods of December 2010 that saw the Gascoyne River reach a record level of 7.7
metres at the nine-mile bridge site east of the Carnarvon town site.
Unfortunately, this was followed by three further flood surges in 2011, and the
damage was estimated at about $87 million. The Department of Water has been
working with a number of other government agencies, including the Shire of
Carnarvon, the Gascoyne Development Commission, the Department of Regional
Development and Lands, the Department of Agriculture and Food and Main Roads to
work out a number of options for a flood mitigation plan for Carnarvon and the
horticultural region. The preferred option consists of about 14.6 kilometres of
levees at an estimated cost of between $56 million and $80 million. These
levees will deviate the water south of the Gascoyne River and to the south of
Carnarvon. These works are vital to the protection of the Carnarvon
horticultural precinct and will provide the community of Carnarvon with greater
security. This government has committed $45 million towards the cost of these
levees through the royalties for regions initiative. The remaining funds are
being sought through the commonwealth. So far, it has been very disappointing
because the response from the commonwealth has not been very positive. The
Premier wrote to the Prime Minister last year, and recently received a
response.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The response confirmed that no specific funds will be made available
by the commonwealth, although the Prime Minister left the door slightly ajar.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, you might want to have a
conversation with somebody else at some point, but not now. I formally call you
to order for the first time today.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The Prime Minister has left the door slightly ajar. She said
that the shire is eligible to bid for federal funding through the Regional
Development Australia Fund. The shire did that last year and missed out, so
this is its second application. We watch with bated breath to see whether the
commonwealth will support that. Unfortunately, we believe that even if we do
get funding, there will be a shortfall for this project. What are we doing? We
are trying to see whether we can redesign it to get something out of it. It
does not look good at this stage, member, but we may be able to do a small
trial on a levee called the six-mile levee to see whether the construction
costs can be brought down. It is extremely disappointing. The state government
has committed $45 million to these essential works at Carnarvon. There are
flood disasters in the eastern states and I know that those places will be
looked after by the commonwealth. Here we are with our own flood disaster in
Western Australia and the people of Carnarvon demand that the commonwealth
assist the state government, yet at this stage we have not had one cent from
the commonwealth.
for his question. I know he has rolled up his sleeves on this issue and he has
been a strong advocate for the people of Carnarvon.
We all remember the devastating
floods of December 2010 that saw the Gascoyne River reach a record level of 7.7
metres at the nine-mile bridge site east of the Carnarvon town site.
Unfortunately, this was followed by three further flood surges in 2011, and the
damage was estimated at about $87 million. The Department of Water has been
working with a number of other government agencies, including the Shire of
Carnarvon, the Gascoyne Development Commission, the Department of Regional
Development and Lands, the Department of Agriculture and Food and Main Roads to
work out a number of options for a flood mitigation plan for Carnarvon and the
horticultural region. The preferred option consists of about 14.6 kilometres of
levees at an estimated cost of between $56 million and $80 million. These
levees will deviate the water south of the Gascoyne River and to the south of
Carnarvon. These works are vital to the protection of the Carnarvon
horticultural precinct and will provide the community of Carnarvon with greater
security. This government has committed $45 million towards the cost of these
levees through the royalties for regions initiative. The remaining funds are
being sought through the commonwealth. So far, it has been very disappointing
because the response from the commonwealth has not been very positive. The
Premier wrote to the Prime Minister last year, and recently received a
response.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The response confirmed that no specific funds will be made available
by the commonwealth, although the Prime Minister left the door slightly ajar.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, you might want to have a
conversation with somebody else at some point, but not now. I formally call you
to order for the first time today.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The Prime Minister has left the door slightly ajar. She said
that the shire is eligible to bid for federal funding through the Regional
Development Australia Fund. The shire did that last year and missed out, so
this is its second application. We watch with bated breath to see whether the
commonwealth will support that. Unfortunately, we believe that even if we do
get funding, there will be a shortfall for this project. What are we doing? We
are trying to see whether we can redesign it to get something out of it. It
does not look good at this stage, member, but we may be able to do a small
trial on a levee called the six-mile levee to see whether the construction
costs can be brought down. It is extremely disappointing. The state government
has committed $45 million to these essential works at Carnarvon. There are
flood disasters in the eastern states and I know that those places will be
looked after by the commonwealth. Here we are with our own flood disaster in
Western Australia and the people of Carnarvon demand that the commonwealth
assist the state government, yet at this stage we have not had one cent from
the commonwealth.
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