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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 958 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 November 2021 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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!