WA Government urged to take serious action on climate change in ‘serious conversation’ around water security

The State Government has been urged to get serious on climate change after launching a new document aiming to spark a “serious conversation” around WA’s long-term water security. On Saturday March 21, the State Government unveiled its Made Possible By Water document with input from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Water Corporation, Aqwest — Bunbury Water, and Busselton Water. The document aims to set out key priorities to secure water for generations to come, including expanding climate‑resilient infrastructure, strengthening water efficiency programs, increasing recycling and alternative sources, working closely with Aboriginal communities, regional utilities, industry, and local governments. In a statement, Water and Climate Resilience Minister Don Punch said the new document initiated an important “community‑wide discussion” on safeguarding the State’s long‑term water security. The South West was a particular focus of the document, with the region’s rainfall declining by around 20 per cent since the 1970s, streamflow to dams falling by up to 80 per cent, and groundwater sources seeing 70 per cent less recharge. Mr Punch said WA was undergoing a significant water transition as the climate continued to dry but the State Government was investing in desalination, recycling, and groundwater replenishment to ensuring the State remained ahead of emerging pressures. “With declining rainfall and sharply reduced dam inflows, Western Australia is contending with some of the most challenging water conditions globally,” he said. “Made Possible By Water outlines the path forward, emphasising the need for continued investment in climate‑resilient infrastructure, the expansion of water recycling, and a long‑term, constructive dialogue with the community to secure water resources for generations to come.” However, with the conversation open, several groups have been quick to call out the State Government’s shortfalls, with WA the only State in Australia to still see emissions increase. South West NRM CEO Dr Manda Page said she welcomed the document but said she hoped it would go beyond “kickstarting a conversation” and lead to further action and investment by both government and industry to help mitigate the impact of climate change. “Many would recall the summer of 2024 and its record-breaking period of dry weather — a grim insight into what our future looks like, with continual reductions in annual rainfall,” she said. “Almost unheard of in our region, farmers were experiencing drought conditions, with lack of feed and water creating enormous financial and psychological suffering. “And a mass die-off of forests and shrubs that was so widespread that experts were likening it to bleaching of coral reefs.” Dr Page was echoed in her sentiment by Conservation Council of WA CEO Matt Roberts, who slammed the State Government’s priorities. “The mismanagement of water is having severe impacts across the whole State,” he said. “These are not isolated problems, and they stem from the over-allocation of groundwater — particularly for mining — and limited protections for water quality.” Mr Roberts pointed to the overwhelming allocation of water to the mining industry as a clear shortfall of the State’s management. The Made Possible By Water document reveals 46 per cent of the State’s allocated water goes towards the mining industry, while only 13 per cent is allocated to public water, and 16 per cent contributes to agriculture. “From the Pilbara in the north — where the mining industry has brought water systems to their knees — to the rapidly drying South West, we need a proper overhaul of how we manage and prioritise water,” Mr Roberts said. “We have seen real-life impacts from our drying climate in the South West, with increased intensity and frequency of bushfires.” Albany-based Greens water spokesperson Jess Beckerling MLC also pointed to WA’s lack of oversight on water rights. “The biggest risk to water security in this State is corporations sucking our rivers and streams dry with next to no government oversight,” she said. “Under-regulation of big corporations that take billions of litres from drought-prone areas every single year — like the South West, which is drying out faster than anywhere else on the continent — is a water security problem that Western Australia cannot desalinate our way out of. “What confidence can we have that there will be water for our communities and environment if the Government cannot even assure us today that they are monitoring and enforcing water compliance amongst the State’s biggest users? Ms Beckerling said last year, the Auditor General reported there were 12,000 water licences to extract more than four trillion litres of groundwater per year in WA, with no way for the State regulator to monitor or enforce these takings. “We will be facing profound water shortages in the coming decades if we don’t start taking this situation seriously,” she said. Desalination and recycling is not going to cut it. We need to be regulating and capping the biggest users and properly funding the agencies who are meant to be doing the monitoring and compliance.” Mr Roberts said tackling climate change was key to ensuring WA’s water security, but the State was instead falling short on emissions reduction while preparing for climate consequences. “WA’s emissions continue to rise, the phase-out of coal keeps getting pushed back, and the State is now looking at establishing new gas-powered energy plants. They’re simply replacing one fossil fuel with another,” he said. “In addition, the State Government is yet to implement its Climate Change Bill and has passed on the responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the Federal Government.”