Tenders have been opened on a $396 million water infrastructure project for the construction of a desalination plant.
It is part of the Myalup-Wellington water project, which aims to reduce salinity in the Wellington Dam, Western Australia’s second largest reservoir.
WA based water company Collie Water is leading the works and progressing design plans. The company is also increasing the area of timber plantations in the upper Wellington Dam catchment area to help manage catchment salinity.
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said saline water will be pumped from the Collie River East Branch to reduce salt flows into the Wellington Dam.
“A private desalination facility will be built near Collie to produce potable water to be delivered to the Harris Dam,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The Burekup Weir will be improved to provide increased head pressure, while existing open irrigation channels below the weir will be replaced with a closed pipe network to extend pressurised water supply and increase the area under irrigation.
“The project is also working to deliver new irrigation water to Myalup to support expansion of the region’s existing highly productive irrigated agricultural industry,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Myalup-Wellington project is a significant development which offers a long-term solution to the salinity problems in the Wellington Area.
“The project is expected to increase supply of potable water into the Harris Dam by 10 gigalitres per year. It’ll boost WA’s gross state product by more than $570 million each year and support up to 830 jobs throughout the construction and operation phases.”
The project is jointly funded with the Federal Government investing $190 million, the WA Government investing $37 million and Collie Water and private investors contributing $169 million.
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