Grass Patch, north Jerramungup declared water deficient

Farming locales in the shires of Esperance and Jerramungup have been added to WA’s list of water deficient areas.

The State Government announced today deficiencies had been declared in Grass Patch and the northern part of Jerramungup.

A declaration is made as a last resort after continued dry conditions due to climate change have depleted on-farm and State Government managed community water supplies.

The declaration will see the State Government cart water from December 20 from a number of locations including Esperance, Norseman, Tambellup, Bremer Bay and Mount Barker.

Water will be delivered to temporary tanks at the corner of Monash Avenue and Gnowangerup-Jerramungup Road in Jerramungup, and to the corner of Grass Patch Road and Coolgardie-Esperance Highway in Grass Patch.

Water Minister Dave Kelly said both regions were experiencing unusually dry spells.

“Jerramungup normally receives an average rainfall of more than 430mm a year, so far this year it has only received 263mm,” he said.

“Bureau of Meteorology data for Lort River, near Grass Patch, shows it’s tracking to be the driest year on record, and is currently less than half the yearly average.”

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said water carting was vital to livestock welfare in the affected areas.

Grass Patch and north Jerramungup are the fifth and sixth water deficiencies to be declared in Western Australia this year.

Water deficiencies have also been declared in the shires of Ravensthorpe, Lake Grace and Kent.