16/11/00
Water Resources Minister Dr Kim Hames has outlined in Parliament the Government’s major investment in regional Western Australia under his water resources portfolio.
The Minister listed about 10 key projects that included expenditure of over $123 million to upgrade wastewater treatment plants, of which half was spent on country sewerage plants.
More than $14 million was spent on upgrading water supply dams.
“Ninety per cent of that was spent on country water supply dams,” Dr Hames said.
“That amount does not include the current work on the Harvey Dam at a cost of $75 million and the associated pipeline to service Perth at a cost of $112 million.
“In our current term, this Government has given farm water grants of over $4 million to overcome on-farm water deficiencies in low rainfall areas of the State and has spent more than $11 million on pipeline extensions for community water supplies in country areas,” Dr Hames said.
The highly successful 10-year infill sewerage program included $290 million being spent in regional centres.
“The program is ahead of schedule and past the halfway mark,” he said.
“We have not ignored smaller country towns with the provision of infill sewerage. We have now started a small country towns infill sewerage program with four towns to be started this current financial year.”
Dr Hames also highlighted the work being done to address the water wastage from the Carnarvon artesian basin, the Canarvon flood management plan and Ord stage 2.
Media contact: Sandy Gater, 9424 7450
