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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 6 asked in the Legislative Council on 29 April 2021 by Hon Robin Scott

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

WATER — FITZROY VALLEY

6. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Minister for Regional Development:

I refer to the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley and data that shows that since 21 December 2020 more than 15 000 gigalitres of water has flowed over the Fitzroy River Barrage. That amount of water is the equivalent of more than 28 Sydney Harbours. A fraction of that water could be used to develop industry operations in the Fitzroy Valley.

(1) What steps is the government taking to identify how much surface water could sustainably be taken from the Fitzroy River each year?

(2) What is the government's response to wide allegations that its policy is holding back the people of the Fitzroy Valley?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for his question. I hope that when the member is talking about the people of the Fitzroy Valley, he is actually encompassing that whole community, because, as members will be aware, a very significant population of Aboriginal people have strong and profound ties to that land, and very firm aspirations for that area.

(1)–(2) Over the last four years, the government has, in fact, been doing a huge amount of work to determine a safe level of surface flow that could be taken from the Fitzroy River, bearing in mind all the different aspirations. This is a valley not just for billionaires; it is a valley for a whole heap of people. Complex environmental considerations need to be taken into account together with economic development opportunities, which we do not deny are there. As we speak, the ministerial council has put out for community consultation a water plan that suggests a take of around 300 gigalitres per year. We are consulting on that. However, the extreme wet weather this season has meant that we have not been able to get out to many of those communities over the past four months, so that consultation will probably now go until the end of August. We will then come back and review it and make a decision on the way forward. We absolutely understand there is an economic opportunity, but we want to make sure that that economic opportunity is shared by all within the valley.