❓ Hon Barry House questions the government's plans regarding a desalination plant and the southern Yarragadee aquifer. Hon Nick Griffiths responds that investigations are ongoing regarding the aquifer's capacity and that the desalination plant is part of prudent planning.
AnsweredQoN 19Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government’s apparent approval of a 45 gigalitre desalination plant for Cockburn Sound, which was announced to the world through the Sunday Times last Sunday, 29 February. (1) Have plans to access water from the southern Yarragadee aquifer been scrapped? (2) If not, when can we expect an announcement from the Government on its intention with regard to the southern Yarragadee aquifer? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(1) Have plans to access water from the southern Yarragadee aquifer been scrapped? (2) If not, when can we expect an announcement from the Government on its intention with regard to the southern Yarragadee aquifer? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(2) If not, when can we expect an announcement from the Government on its intention with regard to the southern Yarragadee aquifer? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(1) Have plans to access water from the southern Yarragadee aquifer been scrapped? (2) If not, when can we expect an announcement from the Government on its intention with regard to the southern Yarragadee aquifer? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(2) If not, when can we expect an announcement from the Government on its intention with regard to the southern Yarragadee aquifer? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
(1)-(2) Investigations are taking place to ascertain what the south west Yarragadee aquifer is capable of doing. When we know, as a community, of the extent of the south west Yarragadee, appropriate decisions can be made by government. I have always said it is better to be informed than to not be informed. Appropriate decisions can be made for the future of the south west, and, in that context, for the future of the State. With regard to the proposed desalination plant, environmental approval has been given for a 30 gigalitre desalination plant if that should be required. The Water Corporation is seeking approval for a desalination plant to enable an amount of 45 gigalitres to be extracted. Again, that is prudent planning in the interests of the State. When and if it should be necessary to press the button to go ahead on that, that will occur.
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