Landcorp - sustainability commitment

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Wednesday, 10 August 2011]
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Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Wendy Duncan

LANDCORP — SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT

Hon Lynn MacLaren to the Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Lands

(1) Can the Minister identify recent developments where LandCorp has publicly committed to demonstrating its sustainability credentials?

(2) Will the Minister identify the barriers to implementing grey water waste water systems in —

(a) residential developments; and

(b) large scale mixed use developments?

(3) Is the Minister aware that the integrated waste water system which is installed and fully functional at The Grove Library in Peppermint Grove for the on-site separation, treatment and re-use of grey, brown and yellow waste water, is expected to save approximately 700,000 litres of water each year?

Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied:

(1) LandCorp has a commitment to apply sustainability principles to its developments. These include, but are definitely not limited to the following projects:

• The Alkimos project will set a new sustainability benchmark for urban development in Perth. The first stage is currently being designed in partnership with developer Lend Lease. The project vision and objectives are for a unique coastal regional city which will incorporate innovative solutions to retaining landform, energy and water efficiency, as well as other initiatives towards being a carbon neutral development. A district scale non-drinking water scheme using groundwater with the long term potential to distribute recycled wastewater is currently being investigated.
• Cockburn Coast is a former industrial site which will be transformed into a beachside tourism, mixed use, activity centre, close to Fremantle. The master planning for the development has incorporated sustainability and green infrastructure assessments. Planning scenarios were modelled to demonstrate how the development could meet and exceed the targets for energy and water set in the District Structure Plan, while still achieving affordability.
• Broome North will provide up to 5000 homes as well as schools, tourism and commercial opportunities. The first precinct to be developed incorporates climate responsive planning and building design to improve the ventilation and thermal comfort of homes, reducing the need for mechanical cooling. The estate retains significant areas of remnant native vegetation and applies water sensitive urban design to minimise the transport of nutrients and sediments to the receiving waters of Roebuck Bay.

(2) (a) The barriers to grey water recycling in residential developments include:

• The public perception and take up of recycled grey water is generally poor even with the support of rebates.
• The cost of purchasing and installing a household grey water system is high (typically between $1,000–$8,000), depending on the size and complexity of the system. There is also little or no incentive in terms of payback due to the relatively low cost of water. However, one advantage is that irrigation using grey water is not subject to water restrictions.
• Environmental issues such as chemicals from detergents including sodium, increased Ph and Phosphate impacts on plant health and potential impacts on groundwater and surface water quality can cause problems in some circumstances without appropriate management intervention.
• Public health concerns include the potential for pathogens to be introduced to the environment, especially where a household has young children or people with illnesses.
• The need to gain the necessary Department of Health and local government approvals and the reasonable level of expertise necessarily involved in making applications.

b) There is potential to introduce larger scale grey water or wastewater recycling schemes intomixed use developments with system controls and management for public open space irrigation. However, issues such as who will manage and pay as well as the health and regulatory barriers must still be overcome. This is currently being investigated with reference to several LandCorp projects including Gracetown, Alkimos, Cockburn Coast and Pilbara Cities.

(3) Yes.