Water responsibility transferred at more than 140 remote Aboriginal communities in WA amid quality problems

Responsibility for water services at more than 100 of WA’s remote Aboriginal communities has been shifted after testing revealed the quality was sub-standard at some of them. As of Saturday, the Department of Communities is no longer responsible for power and water services at 141 of the communities, with Water Corporation and Horizon Power taking over. A joint statement by Housing Minister John Carey, Water Minister Simone McGurk and Energy Minister Bill Johnston said this would result in “improved and more reliable power and water services, enhancing wellbeing outcomes for around 12,000 residents”. A whistleblower who did not want to be identified told The West Australian the results of water surveys at some of the communities were shocking. The Ministers said the transfer would advance the State Government’s commitment to Outcome 9 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which is appropriate, affordable housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that is aligned with their priorities and need. Mr Carey noted reliable essential services were the foundation for healthy and sustainable communities, while Ms McGurk said wastewater services would also be upgraded and Mr Johnston said there would be the opportunity to benefit from the integration of renewables into the remote communities’ power systems. The Department of Communities was asked how many of the communities had drinking water assessed as below acceptable standards and what were the major sources of contaminants. “The Department of Communities has had a rigorous program for sampling and testing water quality under the (WA Government’s Remote Service Level) Guidelines,” a spokesperson replied. “The Department of Health regulates health standards for drinking water supplies in WA. “Communities has provided these test results monthly to Health and quarterly to the Advisory Committee for the Purity of Water.” The spokesperson pointed The West to the Water Corporation or ACPOW for further details. “By progressively upgrading infrastructure and improving regulatory compliance in remote Aboriginal communities, residents over time will receive the same standard of water services as similar sized communities elsewhere in the State,” the spokesperson said. The upgrades will be phased in.