Water Resources

A drying climate in the southwest poses new problems for water resource management affecting biodiversity, forests in water catchments, dependent industries and urban water users. Groundwater extraction in some areas in the Perth Region exceeds sustainable water extraction levels. Wetlands and other environmental heritage areas are adversely affected as a result. 

Goals 

The Greens (WA) want:

• long-term assessment of the impact of climate change on the extent and sustainability of our water resources
• water resource management integrated with long-term regional planning
• the biological diversity and ecology of water-dependent ecosystems preserved in water allocations
• the creation and implementation of Area Water Management Plans according to sustainable management principles  in order to achieve sustainable water resource outcomes
• regular reports published on Area Water Management Plans detailing the quantity and quality of water resources, the extent of extraction, the health of dependent ecosystems and the ongoing sustainability of resource use
• strong funding for the sustainable protection and management of water resources and restoration of degraded environments. 

Initiatives

The Greens (WA) will initiate actions and support legislation that: 

• ensure that water use charges for all water users reflect the true cost of monitoring, managing and protecting our water resources and send a clear price signal to profligate users
• ensure open, inclusive and equitable processes in water resource protection and management, applying the precautionary principle
• provide for the publishing of regular performance reports on Area Water Management Plans in newspapers
• research the long-term impact of a drying climate on Perth’s water catchment forests
• research the long-term impact of bauxite and other mining sites, their revegetation and the consequences for water resources
• negotiate for federally owned/controlled land, such as airports, to be subject to state water resource management legislation
• investigate and report on the status of water logging and salinity risk in the Stage 1 Ord River irrigation project, and the implications for Stage 2 expansion
• investigate and report on the long-term impact of mining in the Pilbara and the degrading of its water resources and associated ecosystems
• oppose major new dam building in recognition of the negative environmental and social impacts, and the uncertainty arising from a drier climate in the south west
• legislate to make it compulsory for all stock to be fenced out of waterways to enable the revegetation of buffer zones and the protection surface water quality

Water allocation and licensing

The Greens (WA) will take action and initiate legislation that:

• ensure water allocation and licensing practices:
  - are within sustainable extraction limits, given thorough scientific assessment of the hydro-geological extent of water resources, predicted rates of recharge taking into account likely impacts of climate change, and the water-use needs of dependent local ecosystems
  - promote the equitable use of limited shared resources, taking into account an assessment of the relative social, environmental and economic benefits and costs of competing water uses
  - are informed by monitoring of the extent of the resource and the health of dependent ecosystems to ensure adaptive management
• ensure water trading is subordinate to Area Water Management Plans and does not allow trading in unused license allocations
• make water allocation and licensing in the new Water Resources Management legislation more public, equitable and accountable with third party rights of appeal
• introduce metering of water use for licensed water extraction for large users and investigate alternative measurement systems for smaller users
• research the energy consumption for pumping water from private bores
• limit ground water licensing allocations until comprehensive hydro-geological and environmental assessment of environmental needs have been made and adequate monitoring regimes are in place
• promote the introduction of efficient water use practices in irrigation and discourage the growing of high water-using, low-value crops
• oppose the establishment of new industries that are large consumers of fresh water and review such existing industries that have poor social or economic benefits or impose significant environmental costs
• oppose the misuse of tax-effective schemes that encourage speculation and misallocation of water
• increase the use of urban drainage systems to recharge groundwater aquifers, subject to safe management of likely pollutants.

Background
The Department of Water has drafted the Gnangara Groundwater Area Water Management Plan (GGP – Gingin to Swan River), with approval expected in 2008. A new Water Resources Management Bill is in preparation for 2009 to give improved legal backing to such plans. The GGP is based on computer modelling covering seven aquifers and 45 sub areas with allocation limits and current allocations for each sub area, taking account of a drying climate, and programs for water efficiency, controlling over allocations, wetland protection, pollution and water quality control. There is provision for community and stakeholder engagement. Its success depends on long-term commitments to its aims by governments and the provision of adequate resources.