DESALINATION PLANT
958. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the retention of $1.4 billion
of dividends by the Water Corporation in the 2021 state budget, ostensibly to
fund the construction of the state's desalination plant.
(1) When is another desalination
plant projected to be required by Water Corp?
(2) When is the next desalination
plant expected to be constructed?
(3) Has a business case for another desalination plant
been completed; and, if so, please provide that business case?
(4) What modelling on the need for another
desalination plant has been done, and please provide that modelling?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question, except for his unacceptable use of the word ''ostensibly'',
which I find quite incredible. The following information has been provided to
me by the Minister for Water.
(1)–(2) It is expected that this new source will be
required by the late 2020s. Water Corporation estimates that the plant and
associated marine infrastructure will take approximately four years to
construct. Construction is expected,
therefore, to commence around the middle of the decade. However, these time
lines are dependent on numerous factors such as rainfall, demand and
movements in the construction industry.
(3) A business
case for the delivery of the new desalination plant is in progress.
(4) Water Corporation utilises models for its planning
that consider a number of parameters, including climate scenarios,
demand/customer scenarios, population growth, geographical growth of the Perth
metropolitan area and various future source locations.
Get with the
program, member. Get with the program!