WATER SUPPLY — DRYLAND AREAS — FUNDING
238. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer the minister to the recent
announcement that federal funding through the National Water Grid fund will not
be made available for Western Australian water infrastructure upgrade projects.
I note the dams in Dalwallinu, Dumbleyung,
Esperance, Kulin, Lake Grace, Morawa, Wagin, Yilgarn and Chapman Valley were
among those set for upgrades. Given
the upcoming state budget is expected to deliver a surplus of $5 billion, will
the minister commit to funding the $258 million shortfall through state
consolidated revenue?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Water and I share the member's chagrin at not getting
that federal government funding. The following information has been provided to
me by the Minister for Water.
The federal government handed down
its budget on 11 May 2021 and it was disappointing to see that WA regional
communities once again missed out on federal water funding. All funds announced
under the National Water Grid were allocated to eastern states projects.
The state's $7.3 million
agricultural area dam and community water supply project was not supported.
This project proposes to upgrade and enhance 70 agricultural area dams across
the dryland area and has received widespread support from Western Australian
key industry stakeholders and agricultural communities, including 31 local
governments. This important, shovel-ready project would have provided critical
infrastructure to boost off-farm agricultural water supplies, especially during
dry seasons when on-farm supplies are depleted.
It is clear that climate change is
having a real impact on rural communities in WA. The McGowan government remains
committed to supporting rural communities and will continue to pursue National
Water Grid funding and alternative federal
funding opportunities to support this important work. With or without federal
government funding, the McGowan government will invest $3.65 million in
this important project. The government has commenced planning to upgrade
agricultural area and strategic community dams with state funding alone. This
funding commitment is in addition to our partnership with local government
authorities to upgrade community water supplies and water carting for animal
welfare needs when required.