Private extraction of the Northern Yarragadee no solution

The WA Water Minister’s reported plans to allow a private developer to tap the Northern Yarragadee to supply Perth appear to ignore declining water levels in that part of the aquifer, Greens Water Spokesperson Alison Xamon MLC says.

“According to a recent presentation by the Minister’s own Department of Water, levels in the Yarragadee Aquifer around Lancelin and Gingin are falling by rates up to a metre-a-year and they are expected to fall further with projected declines in rainfall,” Ms Xamon said.

“The Department of Water has warned that future declines in rainfall will cause even larger declines in groundwater recharge in that area – in other words, the Northern Yarragadee Aquifer is neither a lasting nor sustainable water supply option for Perth.

“It is time this Government adopted a different approach to water supply and this should include as the first priority, reducing Perth’s high per capita water consumption and increasing our currently very low rates of water recycling.

“The Minister’s comments follow last month’s comparison of capital cities by the National Water Commission, which showed that Perth has the highest water use and lowest water recycling of Australian major cities.

“We need a new approach: privatizing groundwater extraction is not going to help if groundwater levels are already falling.”