GUILDFORD-based Liberal MLC Anthony Spagnolo has welcomed a recent major parliamentary debate on Swan Valley water management, saying there is now broad recognition that the longstanding problem needs to be addressed.

The issue was debated extensively in the Legislative Council during consideration of two disallowance motions moved by Brad Pettitt MLC relating to proposed Metropolitan Region Scheme amendments for North Ellenbrook.

While the Liberal Party opposed the disallowance motions, Mr Spagnolo said the debate demonstrated significant agreement across the Parliament about the underlying water management concerns in Perth’s eastern corridor.

“There were different views in the chamber about the right solution, but there was very little disagreement that we have a problem,” Mr Spagnolo said.

“That is significant. Residents have been raising these issues for years and we have now had them debated properly on the floor of state Parliament.

“My position is straightforward. We need more homes in Western Australia, but we also need to get water management right. We can do both.”

Mr Spagnolo told Parliament he had asked 61 questions on notice on the issue, written to more than 10,000 residents across Swan Hills and West Swan, visited affected properties and met with residents, businesses and University of Western Australia Professor Sally Thompson.

He said the debate was an important step in bringing greater attention to the concerns of residents who have experienced rising groundwater and waterlogging across parts of the Swan Valley.

“We have seen productive land affected, businesses impacted and residents left dealing with problems they did not create.

“The important thing now is that the debate leads to action.”

Since the debate, Mr Spagnolo has lodged a further seven questions specifically on Swan Valley water management, bringing the total number of questions he has asked on the issue to 68.

Mr Spagnolo said his most recent questions on notice were directed to the new Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli, seeking to establish whether he shares the concerns expressed by deputy Premier and West Swan MLA Rita Saffioti in the article Saffioti eager for action on Swan flooding and new review.

“The deputy Premier appears to have now acknowledged the need to look at whether our urban water management policies are fit for purpose.

“I now want to know whether the new Labor Water Minister shares those concerns and what he intends to do about them.”

In Questions on Notice from Mr Spagnolo he asked if it is proposed that the review examine groundwater, drainage and flooding issues associated with future development in North Ellenbrook and the north-east urban growth corridor, and if the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation provided advice to the Minister for Planning or any planning authority regarding groundwater, drainage or flooding risks associated with North Ellenbrook.

The Parliamentary response was the state government is not undertaking further reviews on North Ellenbrook groundwater matters.

Referring to the Echo News article where the deputy Premier said the government was looking at working with the City of Swan on options to support better drainage in the Swan Valley, Mr Spagnolo asked what work is the state government currently undertaking with the City of Swan in relation to drainage, groundwater or flooding in the Swan Valley.

The Parliamentary response was the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is assisting the City of Swan’s review or investigation by providing relevant groundwater information, data and technical advice and assistance is also being provided by the Department of Planning, Land and Heritage, as per normal processes.