Karara Mining - access to Parmelia aquifer
36. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Water:
I refer to Karara Mining Ltd’s application for a licence to draw 5.3 gigalitres of water a year from the Parmelia aquifer in the Mingenew sub-area. Given that Karara Ltd is currently constructing stage 1 of the Karara project, which will produce 10 million tonnes per annum of iron ore, but may increase production to 14mtpa, and eventually to in excess of 30mtpa, what other potential water sources are available for the Karara project should the project require more water than the 5.3 gigalitres a year that Karara is currently applying for?
Hon HELEN MORTON replied:
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
Karara Mining Ltd has discussed future water requirements should production increase above the current proposed eight million tonnes per annum. Potential water sources discussed include the Yarragadee aquifer in the Twin Hills sub-area, and the Leederville Parmelia aquifer in the Tathra sub-area. Other potential sources are drilling into deeper aquifers, or desalination.