Question Without Notice No. 333 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 May 2018 by Hon Peter Collier
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
WATER CORPORATION — DESALINATION PLANTS
333. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the Minister for Water:
(1) What is the forecast output of the Perth seawater desalination plant for the following years —
(a) 2017–18;
(b) 2018–19;
(c) 2019–20; and
(d) 2020–21?
(2) Has the Water Corporation undertaken any planning into a new desalination plant?
(3) If yes to (2), what were the assumptions in relation to —
(a) the size of desalination plant in gigalitres;
(b) the average cost per gigalitre;
(c) the average cost per kilolitre; and
(d) the expected cost of the project?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question. The following information has been provided by the Minister for Water.
(1) (a) The forecast output is around 46 gigalitres.
(b)–(d) Production is reviewed annually based on inflows to dams and expected consumer demand.
(2) Yes. The Water Corporation is constantly responding and adapting to changing circumstances, including climate change, by identifying and investigating the requirement for new sources.
(3) (a)–(d) Water supply planning is not static and is affected by a range of factors including, but not limited to, climate and demand growth. This planning is still at a conceptual stage so it is too early to estimate the cost per kilolitre or expected capital cost of a new desalination plant. Unknown factors at this stage include site location, plant configuration and scheme integration.