WATER
DEFICIENCY DECLARATION — ESPERANCE
269. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the minister's response to question
without notice 190 in which the minister advises that neither the Salmon Gums
nor Grass Patch dams hold sufficient water for the purpose of watering
livestock or crop spraying.
(1) How much water is currently stored in each of the two
dams?
(2) How much water was stored in each of the two dams at 30
June 2021?
(3) Why did
the Water Corporation place sandbags in the catchment of the Grass Patch dam,
impeding water flowing into the dam?
(4) What work
has been undertaken by the Water Corporation to improve the catchments for each
dam during 2020–21 and 2021–22 to date, such that water flow
into the dams could be increased?
Hon SAMANTHA ROWE replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for Regional
Development representing the Minister for Water.
(1) On 28 March 2022, the Salmon Gums quarry dam was
estimated to be at less than 0.5 metres in depth. This was based on a visual
estimation as the level was well below its operational level. On 28 March 2022,
the Grass Patch dam was at approximately 1.7 metres in depth.
(2) On 21 June
2021, the Salmon Gums quarry dam was estimated to be at less than 0.5 metres in
depth. This was based on a visual estimation as the level was well below its
operational level. On 21 June 2021, the Grass Patch dam was at approximately
2.5 metres in depth.
(3) The Water Corporation has previously placed a small
barrier on one part of the chute going into the Grass Patch dam from the
water catchment area. This was done to direct and disperse the water flowing into the dam as a means of reducing turbidity.
This assists in creating a less concentrated flow into the dam and
therefore helping to improve and/or maintain water quality in the dam. The
placement of this partial barrier in the chute has not prevented or reduced any
flow of water into the dam.