MILLSTREAM WATER RESERVE —
PILBARA
1540. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the Millstream Water
Reserve water supply in the Pilbara.
(1) What is the current level of
Harding Dam?
(2) What is the current status of
the 12 bores within the water reserve?
(3) Is the
minister aware of any issues pertaining to the supply of water across the
Pilbara region; and, if yes, will he please list them?
(4) Does the
department have plans to ensure a stable water supply for Karratha if there is
a lack of rainfall over the next 12 months; and, if yes, will the minister
table those plans?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question. The following information has been provided by the Minister for
Water.
(1) Harding Dam is currently at 22.34 per cent capacity
and holding just under 14 billion litres of water as of yesterday.
(2) Six bores are
currently in use supplying water to the west Pilbara water supply scheme. Four bores
are currently not in use due to salinity
issues. The remaining two bores are currently awaiting mechanical repairs.
(3) Yes. Given
that the west Pilbara region has experienced very dry wet seasons over the last
two years, Harding Dam has not received the streamflow needed to supply the
town. The minister is aware that due to insufficient capacity, Harding Dam is
expected to be taken offline by the end of the month.
(4) The current
Millstream and Bungaroo water sources will be capable of supplying the west
Pilbara water supply scheme over the next 12 months.