RELATED STATE HISTORY
GOVERNMENT (STATE PLANNING) DECISIONS THAT COST YOU $$$$$$$
AT A TIME WHEN BOTH STATE AND COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS ARE SPENDING BILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THEY ARE ALSO ALLOWING NATURAL FORESTS TO BE CUT DOWN IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS SUCH ABOVE BELLS RAPIDS (THE LAST NATURAL SECTION OF THE SWAN RIVER THAT PERTH HAS LEFT).
PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY IT HAS COST THE STATE (YOU THE TAXPAYER):
WELLINGTON DAM - WELLINGTON DAM WHICH HOLDS 186 GIGALITRES - ALMOST 2/3 OF PERTHS ANNUAL CONSUMPTION CAN NOT BE USED DUE TO OVERCLEARING IT NATURAL VEGETATION CAUSING ITS SALINITY TO RISE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO MAKE ITS WATER POTABLE AGAIN, ALTHOUGH HAVE FAILED. IF WELLINGTON DAM WAS STILL IN USE THE STATE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED THE DESALINATION PLANT COST $387 MILLION TO BUILD AND APPROX $20 MILLION ANNUAL RUNNING COSTS (TO ONLY ACHIEVE 45 gl ANNUALLY)
MUNDARING WEIR - IN THE EARLY 1900's MUNDARING WEIR SUFFERED RISING SALINITY DUE TO OVERCLEARING OF ITS CATCHMENT AREA. (IT WAS SAVED BY REFORESTATION).
LAKE LESCHENAULTIA - LAKE LESCHENAULTIA ALSO HAD TO BE SAVED BY THE GOVERNMENT BY BUYING CLEARED LAND BACK AND REFORESTATION.
WEST AUSTRALIAN FARMERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR AS MUCH LAND AS POSSIBLE IN THE EARLY TO MID 1900's. OVERCLEARING OF THIS LAND NOW COSTS US ALL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR IN SALINITY PROBLEMS AND LOST REVENUE (OUR FARMERS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO DEAL WITH IT).