On Thursday 26th June, Hon Shane Love MLA presented a grievance to the Minister for Water at the WA Parliament.
We are thankful to Hon Shane Love MLA and Hon Martin Aldridge MLC for shining the spotlight on the issue as well as the invitation to attend and observe the process. Shane’s grievance, related to water supply in Chittering, raised concerns of infrastructure and water allocation which is severely limiting growth within the Shire of Chittering.
Key people from the Shire of Chittering were invited including: the CEO Gary Tuffin, President Cr Robert Hawes and Deputy President CR Michelle Rossouw.
The grievance process allows members to put key issues in the spotlight to ensure due attention is given. When coordinated with the minister for the issue the
response can be doubly effective as was the case with Shane’s grievance for water supply.
Shire President Robert Hawes said, “We are very grateful to Shane Love for bringing the grievance to the attention of parliament and welcomed the audience with the Mia Davies to explore the issue further and discuss specific initiatives to address the grievance. Particularly encouraging was the offer by Mia Davies to coordinate a shire visit with Terry Redman and other key people to attend the shire and gain a closer understanding of the opportunities and roadblocks faced.”
Shane’s grievance beyond the physical out-dated infrastructure issues related to the discussion of water supply allocation for the town. An edited extract from the grievance outlines the issue: ‘Bindoon’s water supply is limited due to the lack of allocation for public water supply, coupled with the fact that all
available water in the shire is held by water traders with access rights to 1.3 gigalitres of water. As there is no incentive to develop their water
holdings, nor any requirement to do so in a given time frame, these licence holders are warehousing water and waiting for the highest bidder in the form
of a commercial property developer. Property development is thwarted in the shire with no funds expended on infrastructure owing to the lack of development.
The “Muchea Employment Node Structure Plan”, a Western Australian Planning Commission document, outlines plans for a 113-hectare development near the junction of the Great Northern and Brand highways to meet the growing demand for industrial land in the northeastern corridor. The provision of water and wastewater services is listed as a development constraint in the employment node structure plan and identifies water trading as the most efficient means of delivering water to the Shire of Chittering. One developer who was ready to invest many millions of dollars in the employment node has since baulked at the prospect of bringing water to the development.
Government intervention is required to ensure that the Shire of Chittering has sufficient public water available and to prevent the warehousing of water
by licence holders—a situation that is impeding development. I think it appropriate that government exercise its right to request that unused water allocations be returned. I call on the Minister for Water to right this situation and enable enhanced growth in the Chittering Shire.’ Congratulations to Shane for raising the tough questions. Clearly the issue has been taken on board and due to the grievance process of pre-briefing the water challenges now have the attention of the Department of Water.
At Parliament Minister for Water, Hon Mia Davies (MLA) confirmed that as a result of demand management, (responsible water use and less connections) the Water Corporation estimates an additional 47 million kilolitres of water is available to support further development and, based on current usage patterns, growth and
expansion in the scheme can cater for approximately 165 new residential lots. With short-term issues addressed she also didn’t shy away from the controversial
long term challenges, advising that she has requested the Water Corporation go back and look at its long-term planning, which includes its arrangements with the water trade person it has been dealing with.
(You can read the full grievance and Hon Mia Davies response on Hon Shane Love’s website www.shanelove.com.au under speeches. Its is well worth reading)
