6/9/04
Minister for Government Enterprises Nick Griffiths said today he was amazed that shadow water resources Minister Murray Criddle should display the same abject ignorance of water management in Western Australia as his Coalition partner Colin Barnett.
"Mr Criddle's comments today blatantly ignore the facts and the true situation involving water trading between irrigators and the Water Corporation," Mr Griffiths said.
"He joins State Opposition Leader Colin Barnett in peddling nonsense in a futile attempt to cover up the previous government's lack of foresight to deal with the State's water shortage."
Mr Griffiths said several claims that Mr Criddle made today were easily refuted.
- "Irrigators were prepared to trade the Water Corporation part of their water entitlement in return for immediate action to reduce the salinity of Wellington irrigation water."
The Water Corporation has already engaged in trades with Harvey Water for 2003-04 and 2004-05 (3GL in each year). Discussions with irrigators to increase the amount of water being traded are ongoing and the Government is committed to this as part of the overall solution.
The focus is on trading water saved through efficiency improvements and no proposal to trade irrigators' entitlements has been raised.
- "Irrigators in the region are the ones who have paid to use the water yet they have been given no Government support."
In 1996 the then Government gave irrigators in the South-West just under $37million in State assets free of charge.
In addition, the community, through the Government, pays the Water Corporation in excess of $3million each year to cover the difference between revenue raised from water sales to irrigators and the cost of operating and maintaining the assets.
- "The Gallop Government's three years of inaction in securing the State's water future and its city-centric approach to the situation were frustrating."
The State Government has spent more than $100million to increase supply capacity by up to 44GL.
More than $10million has been spent on proving up the South-West Yarragadee resource. This investigation is ongoing.
"I see that Mr Criddle has failed to even mention the South-West Yarragadee in his media statement," Mr Griffiths said.
Completed projects include:
- three new Yarragadee Bores (Carine, Scarborough and Gwelup) - 15GL;
- nine new bores at Mirrabooka - 6GL;
- Samson Brook Dam - 13GL; and
- Wokalup Creek Dam - 10GL.
An irrigation review is also under way as part of the State Water Strategy as well as the successful water restrictions introduced in September 2001.
"The State Government's decision to proceed with a desalination plant is reflective of our drying climate and provides the first climate independent source of water for the integrated water supply scheme," the Minister said.
"This scheme provides water to Perth, Mandurah, and parts of the agricultural, Goldfields and South-West regions."
- "...the State Government has refused to seriously consider the options of grey water and waste water treatment and catchment thinning."
The Government is committed to achieving 20 per cent recycling of treated wastewater by 2012. This is the first Western Australian Government to commit to such a target.
The Government is now putting the finishing touches to the biggest water recycling plant of its kind in Australia - the $25million Kwinana Water Recycling Plant that will provide recycled wastewater to industrial users, freeing up water in the scheme.
A trial project to examine the feasibility of increasing runoff to existing dams by actively managing surface water catchments is currently under development.
Subject to gaining all environmental approvals, the trial project for the Wungong Dam catchment could start as early as next winter. The project is predicted to deliver 6GL over four years.
Mr Griffiths said 'The West Australian' headline (Friday May 7, 1999) was 'Budget plans to drought-proof city'.
The story, said the then Premier Richard Court had announced a $465million spending program to make Perth virtually drought proof.
"Just who is city-centric?" Mr Griffiths asked.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
