Question On Notice No. 2844 asked in the Legislative Council on 10 March 2020 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Water
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 3856-
View tabled paper
Question
I refer to the monitoring bores of the Namagoorie Borefield (NB), in regards to the document uploaded at https://robinchapple.com/longitudinal-and-latitudinal-coordinates-bores-namagoorie-borefield-pilbara, and I ask:
(a) what were the Recharge Classes, the corresponding assigned m AHD Variable Performance Indicator Levels, and the actual recorded m AHD levels for each of the listed bores for each monitoring period for each of the past 10 reporting years;
(b) were there any monitoring bores, in addition to those outlined in (a), from which data was recorded in the NB:
(i) if yes to (b), would the Minister please identify these bores;
(ii) if yes to (b), what were the Recharge Classes, the corresponding assigned m AHD Variable Performance Indicator Levels, and the actual recorded m AHD levels for each of those bores for each monitoring period for each of the past 10 reporting years; and
(iii) if yes to (b), what
were the Performance Indicator Levels, as measured in TDS mg/L, and the actual
recorded TDS mg/L levels, for each of those bores for each monitoring period for
each of the past 10 reporting years;
(c) what
were the Performance Indicator Levels, as measured in TDS mg/L, and the actual
recorded TDS mg/L levels, for each of the listed bores, for each monitoring
period for each of the past 10 reporting years;
(d) what specific studies have been undertaken in relation to the health of groundwater-dependent vegetation within the NB within the past 10 years;
(e) what
is the general health of groundwater-dependent vegetation within the NB at this
time; and
(f) what monitoring locations have been set up to assess ecological health within the NB?
Answered on 12 May 2020
(a) Of the monitoring (observation) bores identified in the document https://robinchapple.com/longitudinal-and-latitudinal-coordinates-bores-namagoorie-borefield-pilbara, only U1, 9/04, 6/04, 7/04, H2, I2 and F1 are recognised with a Recharge Class and associated Trigger, Criteria and Target levels. Setting of recharge classes commenced for the 2017-18 water year.
|
Site
|
Recharge class
|
Trigger (mAHD)
|
Criteria (AHD)
|
Target (mAHD)
|
|
Bore U1
|
1 Drought
|
9.26
|
9.15
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
9.65
|
9.61
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
9.65
|
10.06
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
10.06
|
|
Bore 7/04
|
1 Drought
|
14.42
|
13.96
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
14.47
|
14.45
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
14.47
|
14.96
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
14.96
|
|
Bore H2
|
1 Drought
|
18.15
|
18.05
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
18.39
|
18.30
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
18.39
|
18.94
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
18.94
|
|
Bore I2
|
1 Drought
|
20.33
|
20.17
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
20.48
|
20.36
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
20.48
|
20.82
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
20.82
|
|
Bore F1
|
1 Drought
|
21.65
|
21.30
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
22.16
|
21.88
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
22.16
|
23.38
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
23.38
|
|
Bore 09/04
|
1 Drought
|
7.05
|
6.90
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
7.38
|
7.25
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
7.38
|
7.72
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
7.72
|
|
Bore 06/04
|
1 Drought
|
7.87
|
7.81
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
8.48
|
8.38
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
8.48
|
9.14
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
9.14
|
The measured mAHD (metres Australian Height Datum) levels of these sites are available in the tabled paper.
[See tabled paper no.]
Bores 11/76, 4/76, E1, E3, E4B, H1, I1, 8/04, R1, U2, U3 and U4 do not have recharge Classes and associated Trigger, Criteria and Target levels associated with them but are included in the monitoring program. The measured mAHD levels of these sites are also available.
[See tabled paper no.]
No monitoring is required or undertaken in the last ten years at bore sites X1, 1/04, T1, T2, T3 and T4.
(b) No
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(iii) Not applicable
(c) There is no specific Performance Indicator related to TDS of raw water samples from monitoring bores at Namagoorie borefield. No TDS sampling is required or undertaken.
(d) Annual Vegetation Condition Monitoring has been undertaken since 2017 in accordance with Department of Water and Environmental Regulation requirements.
(e) Vegetation Condition Monitoring Reports show conditions vary from good to poor, with poor areas exhibiting the impacts of grazing, weeds, and recent floods.
(f) Monitoring sites have been set up at MT, MV, MY3, MZ and DG (located near H2).