WA: Premier announces four-strong panel to study canal proposal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2004
WA: Premier announces four-strong panel to study canal proposal

A leading West Australian academic will head an expert panel looking into the merits
of a proposed $2 billion canal to bring water 3,700 kilometres from Western Australia's
Kimberley region to Perth.

Professor REG APPLEYARD, research fellow at the University of Western Australia's graduate
school of management, will chair the four-member panel looking into the controversial
plan.

Premier GEOFF GALLOP last month announced the government was willing to spend $5 million
to discover once-and-for-all if the plan is viable.

The project would transport water from the Fitzroy -- a 750km river that crosses the
southern Kimberley -- to Perth via a covered canal that would be the world's longest,
if built.

AAP RTV tc/hn/ved/lm

KEYWORD: CANAL (PERTH)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.