Jandakot Groundwater Schemestage 2 Public Environmental Review Volume 1
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• Water Authority O of Western Australia WATER RESOURCES DIRECTORATE Groundwater Branch Jandakot GroUndwater SchemeStage 2 Public Environmental Review Volume 1 IN C )WE Department of Environmental Protecttoo Library ftwovolumes:0 7309 17916 730917967 February 1991 910277/4 • •: 9 to 2-7- -Veft JANDAKOT GROUNDWATER SCHEME - STAGE 2 PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED' The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPAWA) invites public submissions on the above project. S This Public Environmental Review (PER) for the further development of the shallow groundwater resource, known as the Jandakot Mound, has been prepared by the Water Authority of Western Australia to meet with the requirements of the Western Australian Government. The proposal is summarised in the Summary Document and described in detail in Volume I. Technical appendices are included in Volume 2. The PER describes the proposal, examines the likely environmental impacts and discusses the proposed environmental management procedures. The document will be available for comments for eight (8) weeks commencing 28 February, 1990 and closing 25 April, 1991. Comments from Government agencies and from the public will assist the EPA to prepare an Assessment Report in which they will make recommendations to the Government. WHY WRITE A SUBMISSION? A submission is a way to provide information, express your opinion and put forward your suggested course of action, including any alternative approach. It is useful if you indicate any suggestions you have to improve the proposal; All submissions received will be acknowledged. DEVELOPING A SUBMISSION You may agree with, disagree with, or comment on, the general issues and specific proposals discussed in the PER. It helps if you give reasons for your conclusions, supported by relevant data. You may make an important contribution by suggesting ways to make the proposal more environmentally acceptable. When making comments on specific proposals in the PER: clearly state your point of view, indicate the source of your information or argument if this is applicable, and suggest recommendations, safeguards or alternatives. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND By keeping the following points in mind, you will make it easier for your submission to be analysed: Attempt to list points so that the issues raised are clear. A summary of your submission is helpful. Refer each point to the appropriate section, chapter or recommendation in the PER. If you discuss different sections of the PER, keep them distinct so there is no confusion as to which section you are considering. Attach any factual information you 'wish to provide and give details of the source. Make sure your information is accurate. Please indicate whether your submission can be quoted, in part or in full, by the EPA in its Assessment Report. REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME S ADDRESS ' DATE THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS: 25 April, 1991. SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: The Chairman Environmental Protection Authority 1 Mount Street PERTH WA 6000 Attention: Mr C. Murray LBRAflY ENVROTPL P TICTi3 (THCRiTY I MGUIT 8TT P2iTh Contents LISTOF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... LISTOF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... SUMMARY INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Role of the Water Authority in water supply ............................................................4 1.2 Purpose of this Public Environmental Review ...........................................................4 1.3 Scope of this Public Environmental Review ............................................................. 5 1.4 Structure of this report ................................................................................................ 5 2 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 What is groundwater" ..................................................................................................6 2.2 The existing Jandakot groundwater abstraction scheme ............................................ 7 2.3 Proposed development and timing ...............................................................................7 2.4 Environmental impact assessment ............................................................................... 7 2.5 The need for environmental criteria ...........................................................................8 2.6 Steering Committee .....................................................................................................8 2.7 Public involvement ......................................................................................................8 3 NEW WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENTS ............................. ...................................... 1ff 3.1 Public water supplies .................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Demand history ................................................................................................. 10 3.1.2 Predicting future demands for water in the MWSS ......................................... 10 3.2 Private water supplies ..................................................................................................... 10 32.1 Potential urban demand ..................................................................................... 10 3.2.2 Potential special rural demand ......................................................................... 11 3.2.3 Potential rural demand ...................................................................................... 11 3.2.4 Potential industrial demand .............................................................................. 11 3.3 Factors modifying supply and demand of groundwater ............................................. 11 3.3.1 Water conservation ............................................................................................. 11 3.3.2 Climate change .................................................................................................. 12 3.4 The need for a new water supply development ........................................................ 12 3.4.1 The consequences of no development action .................................................. 12 3.4.2 Alternative developments ................................................................................. 12 4 PROPOSED SCHEME ........................................................................................................ 14 4.1 Civil works and treatment systems..............................................................................14 4.1.1 Wells ..................................................................................................................14 4. 1 .2 Collector mains .................................................................................................14 4. 1.3 Treatment plant .................................................................................................14 4.2 Operating regime ......................................................................................................... 15 4.3 Projected lifetime ........................................................................................................... 15 4.4 Possible future expansion .............................................................................................. 15 5 OVERVIEW OF JANDAKOT MOUND . 17 5.1 Regional physical environment .................................................................................... 17 5.1.1 Climate .............................................................................................................. 17 5.1.2 Geology ............................................................................................................. 17 5.1.3 Hydrogeology ...................................................................................................... 17 5.1.4 The regional water balance .............................................................................. 18 5.1.5 Groundwater quality .......................................................................................... 19 5.1.6 Landforms and soils ........................................................................................... 19 5.2 Regional biological environment ................................................................................ 19 5.2.1 Wetlands ............................................................................................................. 20 5.2.2 Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 24 5.2.3 Aquatic invertebrates ........................................................................................ 25 5.2.4 Avian fauna (birds) ............................................................................................ 25 5.2.5 Non-avián vertebrate fauna .............................................................................. 27 5.3 Current management-of wetlands ............................................................................... 27 5.3.1 Current management objectives ........................................................................ 27 5.3.2 Existing management