The Environmental Protection Authority has released advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the Southern Source Integration Assets (SSIA) strategic proposal of the Water Corporation.
The purpose of the SSIA is to secure corridors necessary for future installation of potable and/or wastewater pipelines and associated infrastructure in the South Metropolitan Area until 2050. A number of potential corridors have been identified but not all of these corridors will be utilised, depending upon technical, environmental and/or social constraints at the time of implementation.
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said that the Water Corporation had taken appropriate steps in the development of its proposal to avoid and minimise the impacts on the environment, particularly through route selection and the proposed use of tunnel boring in high value areas.
‘It is likely that the EPA’s objectives would be achieved provided there is satisfactory implementation by the proponent of the recommended conditions,’ he said.
‘The project was assessed as the proposed pipeline corridors include important areas or critical environmental assets such as Conservation Category Wetlands and their buffers, Bush Forever Sites and sites where less than ten percent of the particular type of native vegetation remain.’
The project is one component of the Water Corporation’s drought response strategy – “Security through Diversity”. This is a long term initiative to ensure sustainable water sources are developed to meet future water demands. Other diverse water source infrastructure are being developed simultaneously to SSIA.
The EPA acknowledged the high level of consultation and environmental studies that the Water Corporation undertook in preparing its strategic proposal.
EPA Report 1367 is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au. There is a two week public appeal period on the report’s contents closing 4 October, 2010.
EPA Media contact: Charlie Maling, 6467 5415, 0400 866 450
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