Water priorities reset to focus on practical measures

• Past plans to reform water legislation not proceeding following stakeholder feedback
• State Government focussed on boosting housing supply, water allocation planning, supporting the regions through Healthy Estuaries WA, delivering water to remote communities and futureproofing WA's water security with the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant

Plans to consolidate six separate pieces of legislation that govern Western Australia's water resources management system will not proceed, following feedback from water users and stakeholders.

The plans for reform were originally announced in 2006, however a more practical approach to water resource management is preferred. The Cook Government remains committed to supporting economic growth and jobs by improving processes for environmental approvals and reducing green tape.

Priority will be given to supporting timely processing of licence applications and investigations and helping the broader community to preserve our precious water resources.

While the intent of legislative reform was to simplify water management, the feedback to date has indicated that many of the existing and long-standing arrangements are suitable.

This includes the current process for licensing of dams, the issuing of water licences for a period of 10 years, robust water allocation planning to manage water resources and exemptions from the need to have a water licence, including those applying to springs. All existing water licensing arrangements and conditions will be maintained, as will the approaches for the trading and transfer of water licences.

The State Government will now strengthen its focus on delivering important water infrastructure for the State that is needed to unlock thousands of new homes, supporting the regions through programs such as Healthy Estuaries WA and delivering secure water supply to remote Aboriginal communities.

Delivery of the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant – WA's next major climate-resilient water source - is another key priority that is needed to secure the long-term water security of more than 2.5 million Western Australians.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Simone McGurk:

"As Water Minister for the past 12 months, I have assessed the need and implications for legislative change, and it has become clear this is not required.

"This has been a long process that is creating some uncertainty. The current laws are workable, and therefore legislative change is not required when there are other immediate, practical avenues to improve water security.

"I want to thank the stakeholders for their feedback over the past 12 months and look forward to continuing to work with them on important water matters in the future."