Water

Recommendation 53

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:15:38 +0000

Recommendation 53 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 12:15

Recommendation

Determine whether current policy settings remain appropriate by undertaking an integrated strategic review of water and land-use values in the Jandakot and Gnangara groundwater protection areas. The review should consider:

balancing costs, benefits and risks across all economic, social and environmental factors
a strong up-to-date expert evidence base
contemporary building and development options to adequately mitigate any risks to groundwater quality
climate change factors
the future role of the groundwater systems as part of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme’s broader water supply over the medium to long term, including potential alternative water supply options.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 53 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

Serving the emerging consumer class

Transitioning to net zero emissions technologies

Strategy objectives

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Enhance cross-government coordination and planning

Suggested lead agencies

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

Timeframe

2026

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Recommendation 52

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:13:45 +0000

Recommendation 52 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 12:13

Recommendation

Guide investment in water infrastructure projects that enable climate resilient and self-sustainable agriculture and food industries in peri-urban and regional areas by developing a prioritisation framework. The framework should:

be consistent with regional water planning (see Recommendation 48c)
prioritise investment in locations that are strategically aligned with agriculture and food industry opportunities (see the Regional development chapter)
consider social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts and opportunities.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 52 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

A global location of choice

Serving the emerging consumer class

Strategy objectives

Maximise regional strengths to unlock strategic opportunities for Western Australia

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Suggested lead agencies

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Timeframe

2023

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Recommendation 51

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:11:29 +0000

Recommendation 51 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 12:11

Recommendation

51. Ensure long-term water security through the timely planning and delivery of climate-independent infrastructure that provides fit for purpose and sustainable water services, including:

continuing detailed planning and business case development for an additional desalination plant to increase the volume of desalinated water supply to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme and meet medium-term demand projections. Planning and business cases should demonstrate how the use of renewable energy and the application of energy-efficient design, technologies and practices are being used to achieve a target of net zero emissions by 2050
further investigating wastewater recycling opportunities and groundwater replenishment schemes
based on needs identified in the proposed state water strategy and regional water plans (see Recommendations 48b and 48c) and subject to business cases, implementing climate-independent water supply solutions in regional communities as required.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 51 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

Serving the emerging consumer class

Transitioning to net zero emissions technologies

Strategy objectives

Support population growth and change

Maximise regional strengths to unlock strategic opportunities for Western Australia

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Enhance cross-government coordination and planning

Suggested lead agencies

a. Water Corporation

b - c. Water GTEs (Aqwest, Busselton Water, Water Corporation)

Timeframe

a. 2024

b. 2027

c. 2032

Ongoing

c. Yes

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Recommendation 50

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:09:08 +0000

Recommendation 50 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 12:09

Recommendation

50. Manage water demand by:

reviewing and implementing the Waterwise Perth: two year action plan to further improve urban water efficiency
developing and implementing plans, similar to the Waterwise Perth: two year action plan, for regional areas where benefits can be demonstrated
implementing and, where necessary, introducing expanded water efficiency programs, such as the water government trading enterprises Waterwise programs, to offset the development of new water sources
reducing water consumption through education and improved consumer awareness, including by increased use of smart meters, and applying digital technologies to optimise asset performance.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 50 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

A global location of choice

Strategy objectives

Maximise regional strengths to unlock strategic opportunities for Western Australia

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Enhance cross-government coordination and planning

Embrace technology, data and digital connectivity

Get the most from our infrastructure and improve maintenance

Suggested lead agencies

a - b. Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

c - d. Water GTEs (Aqwest, Busselton Water, Water Corporation)

Timeframe

a. 2022

b. 2026

c - d. 2027

Ongoing

c, d. Yes

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Recommendation 49

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 01:42:17 +0000

Recommendation 49 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 09:42

Recommendation

49. Support the long-term sustainable use and management of the state’s strategic water resources by:

reviewing self-supply arrangements for strategic water resources (as identified in the proposed state water strategy) across the state, with the Gnangara groundwater system as a priority, to:
- quantify the amount of water being used for self-supply purposes from each strategic water source, through monitoring and metering
- understand the economic, environmental, cultural and social value of each strategic water resource to the region and the state
- understand future use scenarios and any impacts on the timing and scale of major investment in future water supply infrastructure, such as desalination plants
- consider possible policy and regulatory approaches that could be implemented to ensure long-term sustainable outcomes
- outline mechanisms to achieve improved water-use efficiency (such as improved licensing, metering, pricing, trading and compliance measures)
based on the outcomes of the review in Recommendation 49a, implementing recommended reform measures
finalising and implementing the Gnangara groundwater allocation plan.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 49 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

Serving the emerging consumer class

Value-adding for strategic commodities

Strategy objectives

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Enhance cross-government coordination and planning

Suggested lead agencies

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

Timeframe

a. 2027

b. 2032

c. 2022

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Recommendation 48

eyuser — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 01:37:33 +0000

Recommendation 48 eyuser Thu, 06/23/2022 - 09:37

Recommendation

48. Modernise legislative, regulatory and planning frameworks for water resources and water services by:

prioritising the development and introduction to Parliament of consolidated and modernised water resources management legislation that:
- supports contemporary, best-practice and responsible water resource management
- improves the definition and security of water entitlements
- facilitates a balanced approach to water trading (including addressing barriers in state agreements)
- responds to evolving conditions such as climate change
- considers the cultural and spiritual value of water to Aboriginal people when making allocation or other resource decisions.
developing, publishing and implementing a 20-year state water strategy, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including Aboriginal groups, that:
- considers economic, social and environmental factors, including population growth, industry needs (such as growing a hydrogen industry) and key shocks and stresses, including climate change
- defines and identifies strategic water resources
- sets objectives and measurable targets to achieve long-term water security for the state, considering circular economy principles and multi-source water planning
- identifies appropriately scaled solutions (local, decentralised or large scheme) that deliver optimised outcomes
- articulates a planning and policy framework, identifying the roles of all levels of government, the water services sector and the private sector to support state development objectives
- is reviewed and refreshed on a 5-year cycle
developing, publishing and implementing 10+ year regional water plans (including for Perth and Peel) in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including Aboriginal groups, that:
- align with the state water strategy, regional land use plans and other relevant policies
- respond to the economic, social and environmental drivers and issues of each region
- consider outcomes of the strategic review of water and land-use values (see Recommendation 53)
- are based on up-to-date science and evidence
- address water allocation and supply, and set out infrastructure and investment requirements
- are prioritised according to level of risk and need and are refreshed on a 5-year cycle
including provisions in planning and regulatory frameworks that enable investments in appropriately scaled, locally integrated alternative water supplies and wastewater systems
consistent with Recommendation 26 in the Planning and coordination chapter, clearly articulate water resource needs, drainage and infrastructure requirements in land-use and infrastructure servicing plans. Planning should ensure that:
- there is early consideration of the locational availability of water resources and servicing options so that the real capital and operational costs to government are known before making planning decisions
- opportunities to collaborate with the energy sector to plan, access and/or generate renewable energy solutions are identified
- opportunities to use integrated water cycle planning approaches at a community level are adopted to match demand with the most appropriate source of water that is available.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 48 (a,d) is fully supported; (b,c,e) is partially supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Vision – strategic opportunity

Promoting and leveraging Aboriginal cultural heritage and enterprise

Transitioning to net zero emissions technologies

Value-adding for strategic commodities

Strategy objectives

Support population growth and change

Maximise regional strengths to unlock strategic opportunities for Western Australia

Enable environmental sustainability and resilience, and address climate change

Enhance cross-government coordination and planning

Get the most from our infrastructure and improve maintenance

Suggested lead agencies

a - c. Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

d. Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

e. Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

Timeframe

a - b. 2024

c. 2027

d. 2032

e. 2023

Ongoing

e. Yes

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Water

eyuser — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 03:38:55 +0000

Water eyuser Wed, 06/22/2022 - 11:38

Where there was once an annual average of 420 GL of water running into Perth dams, planning is now based on just 25 GL per year. Since 1980, water tables across the Gnangara Mound have fallen by up to 10 metres – a 1,000 GL loss of aquifer storage.

Strategic justification

Water is one of society’s most vital commodities and the state’s future economic and population growth is highly reliant on the availability and security of suitable water at an economically viable price. Major impacts of climate change on the state’s traditional water sources will require increasingly innovative solutions to ensure adequacy of long‑term water supply and to enable the state to sustain its economy, environment and way of life for years to come.

Vision - strategic opportunities

A global location of choice

Promoting and leveraging Aboriginal cultural heritage and enterprise

Serving the emerging consumer class

Transitioning to net zero emissions technologies

Sector challenges and opportunities

Along with population growth, economic growth and land development, climate change is now a critical consideration for water planning. The state’s increasingly drying climate is driving the need to invest in alternative, climate-independent water sources, principally desalination (from seawater and other brackish sources) and recycling of wastewater. An understanding of the cultural and spiritual value of water to Aboriginal people is also important when planning for the management of the state’s water resources.

The Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS) is a critical, centralised infrastructure network providing water to more than 2 million people in Perth, the Goldfields and surrounding agricultural regions and parts of the South West and Great Southern regions. Two seawater desalination plants produce approximately 47% of the IWSS water supply, and an innovative groundwater replenishment scheme (where treated wastewater is recharged into groundwater supplies) supplements the IWSS. However, it is predicted that even with successful demand management and maximum production from existing sources, a new water supply source will be required within 10 years.

Major water source augmentations are expensive and energy-intensive. Service providers also need to reduce their carbon emissions and adopt low-carbon practices and technologies as they move towards meeting the WA Government’s net zero emissions by 2050 aspiration.

Self‑supplied use is where water is drawn directly by individuals, local governments and industrial, commercial or agricultural enterprises using infrastructure, such as bores and/or dams. Self-supplied water sources are currently managed, in part, through water-allocation plans. It is important that these plans are updated on a regular basis, especially for strategic water resources. While demand management measures have been successful for scheme water, similar measures have not been broadly implemented for many self-supplied users.

As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, it will be essential to adopt total water cycle thinking and appropriately use all available water sources, such as stormwater and wastewater, while driving more efficient practices. Ensuring planning and regulatory frameworks enable investment in alternative water sources will be important to optimise fit for purpose water use.

While circular economy concepts such as water recycling, reuse of waste by‑products and conversion of waste to energy are already being adopted to some extent in WA, there is no indication whether there is a long‑term objective to realise the full potential of a circular economy in the water sector. To fully embrace the circular economy concept, a major step change would be required across several sectors and may require changes in legislation.

There is currently no contemporary, long-term, statewide direction for the water sector. It is important for the government, through its primary water policy agency, to provide strategic direction and guidance for water utilities and other water sector participants.

To further enable a progressive, resilient water sector, a modern legislative framework is required. While some reform measures have been progressed, there is further work to be done to develop a framework that is flexible, progressive and capable of managing water today and in the future.

Case study

As part of its Integrated Water Management Strategy, Aqwest is implementing the Bunbury Water Resource Recovery Scheme, with $14.1 million allocated from the state government’s WA Recovery Plan. The scheme will provide 5.6 ML of recycled water per day to irrigate public open spaces in Bunbury and to use on major infrastructure projects such as the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. For further information, refer to: https://aqwest.com.au/community-and-education/local-projects/bunbury-water-resource-recovery-scheme