Murchison hydrogen project
521. Hon Philip Scottto theMinister for the Environment:
I refer to the use of seawater desalination in the Murchison hydrogen project:
(1) Has the government reviewed any site-specific brine discharge modelling and, if so, will it table that data, particularly regarding plume spread under low-current conditions?
(2) Has any environmental impact assessment been conducted regarding the risk of brine induced hypoxia in Kalbarri's sensitive reef ecosystems or the Murchison River estuary?
(3) Can the minister guarantee that the project's brine discharge will not affect seagrass, larval fish or recreational fisheries, particularly during summer low-current events?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The Murchison hydrogen renewables project proposal is being assessed by the independent Environmental Protection Authority under part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The EPA's assessment and recommendations will consider impacts to the marine environment once further information is provided by the proponent. Any documentation associated with the EPA assessment will be released in accordance with the EPA's practices.
