The
greater Perth metropolitan area has undergone tough times as far its
water supply is concerned. Although the city itself sits on top of an
ancient aquifer, changes in environmental conditions have stressed
the water supply to the point of a water shortage crisis. Experts are
hard-pressed to find new resources in light of a growing population
and higher standard of living for Perth natives. Recent developments
in the Federal Government’s water management discussions, on the
other hand, are leaning towards the revival of a water project
linking Perth with the Kimberley.
Originally
proposed in mid-2005 but rejected a year later, the plan called for a
3,700-kilometer canal to be built from the Kimberley to Perth. Other
elements of the plan involved laying down pipelines, towing bags of
water down the coast, and tapping supertankers to transport water.
This comes at a time when Colin Barnett, who expressed intentions for
such a plan in his failed run for the premiership in 2005, is now the
state premier facing reelection.
Even
the opposition is welcoming the initiative, with Shadow Regional
Development Minister Barnaby Joyce hard at work in shunning Federal
Government critics. Pundits say that the project will help shape the
Kimberley’s political future.
