Kimberley-Perth Canal
Encyclopedia
The Kimberley-Perth Canal is a recurrent proposal to channel water from the Kimberley region of Western Australia
to the southwestern capital of Perth
, a distance of approximately 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi). A number of variations to the proposal and the path it would take have been mooted.
The proposal first gained currency in the mid-1980s when Water Resources Minister Ernie Bridge
promoted the concept of a pipeline from the Fitzroy River
, arguing that the limited resources and engineering of more than 100 years earlier was able to construct the 530 kilometres (329.3 mi) long Perth to Kalgoorlie pipeline
which opened in 1903, and that the associated economic spinoff from a new pipeline would offset the massive capital costs. In 2005 Bridge established the Watering Australia Foundation which promotes the concept of supplying water from northern Australian rivers to the southern cities.
A similar idea was a plank of Colin Barnett
's unsuccessful 2005 state election campaign which, in one form would be a covered canal 3700 kilometres (2,299.1 mi) long, and costing $2 billion to build. He ruled it out in 2008 when reinstated as opposition leader for the forthcoming election.
processes which have started to be used in recent years.
Pipeline
Canal
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
to the southwestern capital of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, a distance of approximately 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi). A number of variations to the proposal and the path it would take have been mooted.
The proposal first gained currency in the mid-1980s when Water Resources Minister Ernie Bridge
Ernie Bridge
Ernest Frances "Ernie" Bridge is an Australian politician and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as an Australian Labor Party representative and then as an independent MP...
promoted the concept of a pipeline from the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
, arguing that the limited resources and engineering of more than 100 years earlier was able to construct the 530 kilometres (329.3 mi) long Perth to Kalgoorlie pipeline
Goldfields Water Supply Scheme
The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme is a pipeline and dam project which delivers potable water to communities in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, particularly Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie...
which opened in 1903, and that the associated economic spinoff from a new pipeline would offset the massive capital costs. In 2005 Bridge established the Watering Australia Foundation which promotes the concept of supplying water from northern Australian rivers to the southern cities.
A similar idea was a plank of Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
's unsuccessful 2005 state election campaign which, in one form would be a covered canal 3700 kilometres (2,299.1 mi) long, and costing $2 billion to build. He ruled it out in 2008 when reinstated as opposition leader for the forthcoming election.
Environmental issues
According to the World Wildlife Fund, a 1993 WA Government report said that aquifers in the Fitzroy River had volumes of not much more than 200 gigalitres and that the pipleine or canal requirements would cause serious environmental damage.Cost estimates
The major arguments against the project have been cost related, particularly when compared to improved sea-water desalinationDesalination
Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove some amount of salt and other minerals from saline water...
processes which have started to be used in recent years.
Pipeline
- Ernie BridgeErnie BridgeErnest Frances "Ernie" Bridge is an Australian politician and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as an Australian Labor Party representative and then as an independent MP...
pipeline- $3Bn
Canal
- State governmentGovernment of Western AustraliaThe formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
estimates - $15Bn - Tenix - $2Bn