Parliamentary Questions

(a) in the Ministers own words, what is the PHRWSS;
(b) what infrastructure forms part of the PHRWSS;
(c) which private sector entities have ownership interests in the assets of the PHRWSS;
(d) what has been the yield taken from the Yule Borefield (YB), for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(e) what has been the allocation limit for the YB for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(f) what has been the yield taken from the Namagoorie Borefield (NB) for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(g) what has been the allocation limit for the NB for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(h) what has been the yield taken from the Bulgarene Borefield (BB) for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(i) what has been the allocation limit for the BB for each of the past 20 full reporting years;
(j) are there any aquifers other than the YB, NB, and BB supplying the PHRWSS:
(i) if yes to (j), would the Minister please table the yield taken from each aquifer, for this year, and the last 20 years, where applicable; and
(ii) if yes to (j), would the Minister please table the allocation limits for each aquifer, for this year, and the last 20 years, where applicable;
(k) what total volume of water has been supplied by the PHRWSS for each of the past 20 reporting years:
(i) of the amounts in (k), what volume has been supplied, per annum, for this year and the previous 20 reporting years, by the PHRWSS, for residential use;
(ii) of the amounts in (k), what volume has been supplied, per annum, for this year and the previous 20 reporting years, by the PHRWSS, for industrial use; and
(iii) of the amounts in (k), what volume has been supplied, per annum, for this year and the previous 20 reporting years, by the PHRWSS, under bulk supply or other agreements outside of residential or industrial use;
(l) within the boundaries of the Town of Port Hedland, are there any major users of water not serviced by the PHRWSS:
(i) if yes to (l), who are those major users, and from where do they source their water;
(m) what total charges for all customers (residential, industrial, other - including bulk supply agreements), as split out by Water Use Charges and Service Charges, have been levied for each of the past ten full reporting years in respect of the supply of water by the PHRWSS;
(n) what total charges for residential customers, as split out by Water Use Charges and Service Charges, have been levied for each of the past ten full reporting years in respect of the supply of water by the PHRWSS;
(o) what total charges for industrial customers, as split out by Water Use Charges and Service Charges, have been levied for each of the past ten full reporting years in respect of the supply of water by the PHRWSS;
(p) are new water sources for the PHRWSS being investigated:
(i) if yes to (p), what source(s); and
(ii) if yes to (p), have site investigations been conducted; and
(q) when does the Minister expect a final decision to be made, regarding the sourcing of new water supplies, for the supply of water to the PHRWSS?
Answered on 12 May 2020

(a) The Port Hedland Regional Water Supply Scheme (PHRWSS) supplies drinking water to the towns of Port Hedland, South Hedland and the industrial area of Wedgefield nearby to South Hedland. The PHRWSS also supplies port operations for the mining industry, notably at Nelson Point (Port Hedland) and also at Finucane Island to the west of Port Hedland.

(b) The PHRWSS sources its water from two borefields; the Yule Borefield and De Grey Borefield. There are 13 bores in the Yule Borefield and 11 bores in the De Grey Borefield. Water is transferred from both borefields to a tank complex in South Hedland.

(c) None

(d) [See tabled paper no.]

(e)

1996-2004 6,500,000 kilolitres per annum

2004-2011 8,500,000 kilolitres per annum

2011-current 10,500,000 kilolitres per annum

(f) [See tabled paper no.]

(g)

1996-2011 7,000,000 kilolitres per annum

2011-current 10,000,000 kilolitres per annum

(h) Zero

(i) Refer to (g), the Bulgarene Borefield is located within the De Grey River alluvial aquifer, downstream of the Namagoorie Borefield, and has not been assigned a separate allocation limit. Any groundwater abstracted from this borefield would be taken from within the existing De Grey River alluvial aquifer allocation.

(j) No.

(i) Not applicable

(ii) Not applicable

(k) Water Supplied from Yule and De Grey Borefields for use in the PHRWSS

(i,)

(ii)

(iii)

(l) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is not aware of any major users of water within the Town of Port Hedland boundaries that are not serviced by the PHRWSS.

(i) Not applicable

(m)

(n)

(o)

(p) Yes.

(i) Expansion of the current borefields and/or seawater desalination.

(ii) Initial site investigations have been completed with regards to expansion of the current borefields. No site investigations have been completed with regards to seawater desalination.

(q) The planning study for a source expansion for PHRWSS is due for completion in early 2022. A decision on a new source will be made once triggers are met.