Question On Notice No. 3017 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 June 2020 by Hon Colin De Grussa
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Water
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the recent water deficiency declaration for the Gairdner district in the Shire of Jerramungup, and I ask:
(a) how many water deficiency declarations are active in Western Australia and please provide the following information:
(i) geographical location;
(ii) what date the declaration was made; and
(iii) what assistance is being provided to impacted communities;
(b) aside from those communities identified in (a), how many water deficiency declarations have been made in the past 12 months, and please provide the following information:
(i) geographical location;
(ii) what date the declaration was made;
(iii) what date the declaration ended; and
(iv) what assistance was provided to impacted communities;
(c) is the State Government currently carting water to any communities or regions not identified in (a) or (b) and, if so, please provide detail;
(d) has the State Government carted water in the past year to any communities or regions not identified in (a), (b), or (c) and, if so, please provide detail;
(e) what is the current cost to Government for water carting to impacted communities this financial year;
(f) what is the anticipated cost to Government for water carting to impacted communities in the next financial year;
(g) will the State Government reinstate the Farm Water Rebate Scheme;
(h) will the State Government reinstate the Pastoral Water Grants Scheme; and
(i) what is the State Government’s long-term plan to address water security for regional communities?
Answered on 9 September 2020
(a) There are 12 active water deficiency declared areas in Western Australia.
(i) and (ii)
Locations of Water Deficiency Declarations and date of declaration.
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Shire / Area
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Date Declared
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1. Shire of Ravensthorpe – Mt Short
|
7 May 2019
|
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2. Shire of Lake Grace – Ardler Rd
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15 May 2019
|
|
3. Shire of Kent – Hollands Rock
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4 June 2019
|
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4. Shire of Lake Grace – Tommys
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4 December 2019
|
|
5. Shire of Jerramungup – Jerramungup
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19 December 2019
|
|
6. Shire of Esperance – Grasspatch
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19 December 2019
|
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7. Shire of Jerramungup – Fitzgerald
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13 February 2020
|
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8. Shire of Dumbleyung – Kukerin
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21 February 2020
|
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9. Shire of Kent – Hamilton
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21 February 2020
|
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10. Shire of Esperance – Salmon Gums
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7 March 2020
|
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11. Shire of Jerramungup – Gairdner
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10 June 2020
|
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12. Shire of Esperance – Cascades
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16 June 2020
|
(iii) Emergency stock water is supplied by the State Government free of charge and carted to central locations to support farmers in Water Deficiency Declared areas.
The McGowan Government has made significant investment into Strategic Community Water infrastructure. We have spent over $1.5 million on developing and upgrading 37 community water supplies in the south east wheatbelt (dryland agriculture communities) in the last 18 months. We have also provided $541 512 in funding for seven new community water supply projects in 2019-20 in partnership with the Shires of Pingelly, Broomehill-Tambellup, Dumbleyung, Kulin (two projects), Ravensthorpe and the City of Greater Geraldton. All projects will boost the strategic off-farm community water supplies in these vulnerable areas.
Farmers are also able to access a rebate to undertake farm water audits through the Department of Water and Environmental Region’s Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme with the rebate increased to $1000.
(b) All Water Deficiency Declarations made since May 2019 are listed under question (a) above.
(i) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(ii) As for (a) (i)(ii)
(iii) To date, no Water Deficiency Declarations have been formally revoked.
(iv) Refer to question (a)(iii)
(c) Drinking water carting
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Location
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Reason for carting
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Cranbrook
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Low levels in local dams
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Rocky Gully
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Wellstead
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Supplement local source due to water quality
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Varley
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Lake King
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Munglinup
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Low levels in local dams
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Ongerup
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Low levels in local dams
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Kirup
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies (upgrade project active to reduce carting)
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Northcliffe
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Quiningup
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
|
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Augusta (Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse)
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Logue Brook (Caravan Park)
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Nabawa
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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Yuna
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Providing on-going drinking water supplies
|
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Coomberdale
|
Providing on-going drinking water supplies
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(d) Drinking water carting
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Location
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Reason for carting
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Frankland
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Supplement local source when needed
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Walpole
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Supplement local source (peak season only)
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Hyden
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Supplement local source and scheme when needed
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Yerecoin
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Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
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Coorow
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Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
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Bolgart
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Emergency – storm damage impacting treatment
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Gingin
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Planned work impacting treatment
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(e) Total cost of water carting to all locations for financial year 2019-20: $8 568 187.
(f) Much of the water carting is undertaken on an as-needs basis and the cost for water carting in 2020-21 will vary depending on weather conditions and water user needs.
(g) and (h)
There are no plans to reinstate these schemes. The State Government’s focus is on providing community water supplies which are accessible by all members of the community.
(i) The McGowan Government continues to take a proactive approach to ensuring long-term supply security in areas impacted by climate change. We continue to work with the Federal Government to seek additional funding under Future Drought Fund, and other funding opportunities to support on-the-ground solutions to long-term, systemic dry conditions across WA's pastoral and agricultural regions.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation continues to work with local government authorities to further develop Strategic Community Water Supplies across the dryland wheatbelt region. Work programs will continue to focus on upgrading strategic off-farm supplies in vulnerable Shires.
The Water Corporation continues to monitor and invest in infrastructure to ensure reliable and safe supplies of drinking water.