Question On Notice No. 2843 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: 3855-
View tabled paper
Question
Regarding the Yule Bore field in the Pilbara, and with reference to the document uploaded at https://robinchapple.com/longitudinal-and-latitudinal-coordinates-bores-yule-borefield-pilbara, 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 bores in the referenced document, for each monitoring period, for each of the past 10 reporting
years;
(b) were
there any monitoring bores, in addition to those listed in the referenced document, from
which data was recorded in the Yule Bore field (YB):
(i) if yes to (b), could the Minister 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 referenced in the document, 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 YB within the past 10 years;
(e) what
is the general health of groundwater dependent vegetation within the YB at this
time; and
(f) what
monitoring locations have been set up to assess ecological health within the YB?
Answered on 12 May 2020
(a) Of the monitoring (observation) bores identified in the document referred to by the Member https://robinchapple.com/longitudinal-and-latitudinal-coordinates-bores-yule-borefield-pilbara, only 8/04, 10/04, 12/04, 13/04, 14/04, 15/04, 17/04, 21/04, 34/04 and 37/04 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 8/04
|
1 Drought
|
8.27
|
7.28
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
9.23
|
8.25
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
9.23
|
10.78
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
10.78
|
|
Bore 10/04
|
1 Drought
|
8.47
|
7.45
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
9.86
|
8.88
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
9.86
|
12.18
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
12.18
|
|
Bore 12/04
|
1 Drought
|
12.08
|
11.09
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
14.30
|
13.32
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
14.30
|
15.39
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
15.39
|
|
Bore 13/04
|
1 Drought
|
15.59
|
14.61
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
17.53
|
16.55
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
17.53
|
18.34
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
18.34
|
|
Bore 14/04
|
1 Drought
|
17.44
|
16.46
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
18.77
|
17.79
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
18.77
|
19.82
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
19.82
|
|
Bore 15/04
|
1 Drought
|
22.35
|
21.37
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
23.12
|
22.14
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
23.12
|
24.22
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
24.22
|
|
Bore 34/04
|
1 Drought
|
9.41
|
8.42
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
10.06
|
9.07
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
10.06
|
10.68
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
10.68
|
|
Bore 37/04
|
1 Drought
|
8.12
|
7.19
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
8.87
|
7.88
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
8.87
|
10.32
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
10.32
|
|
Bore 17/04
|
1 Drought
|
28.28
|
27.98
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
28.96
|
28.66
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
28.96
|
29.48
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
29.48
|
|
Bore 21/04
|
1 Drought
|
31.45
|
31.16
|
-
|
|
2 Dry
|
32.03
|
31.73
|
-
|
|
3 Average
|
-
|
32.03
|
32.48
|
|
4 Wet
|
-
|
-
|
32.48
|
The measured mAHD (metres Australian Height Datum) levels of these sites for the last ten years are available.
[See tabled paper no.]
Bores 3, 8A, 18B, 20, 21, 14/70, 15/73, 19/73, 20/73, 21/73, 4/96, 6/96 and 8/96 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 (metres Australian Height Datum) levels of these sites for the last ten years are available.
[See tabled paper no.]
No monitoring is required of bore 22/73, which was last used as a production bore in 1998.
(b) Yes
(i) Bores 28/10, 1/11 and 3/11.
(ii) These bores 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.]
(iii) There is no specific Performance Indicator related to TDS of raw water samples from these monitoring bores. No TDS sampling is required or undertaken.
(c) There is no specific Performance Indicator related to TDS of raw water samples from monitoring bores at Yule Borefield. No TDS sampling is required or undertaken.
(d) Vegetation Condition Monitoring was undertaken between March 2009 and November 2011 and then annually since 2017 in accordance with Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) requirements.
(e) The 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 MM1(37/04), MI(12/04), MA(14/04), MB(15/04), MC(17/04), MK(10/04).