The Federal and Western Australian governments have jointly invested $60 million in the construction of a new water treatment plant in Busselton in Western Australia.
The funding will help local regional water utility Busselton Water build a new plant and bore that connects to higher quality drinking water, reduce the pressure on coastal bores and increase supply capacity by 20 per cent.
The water infrastructure upgrade is the largest undertaken by Busselton Water in decades and will help support the growing communities of Busselton and Dunsborough.
The Busselton Water Supply Improvement Project is one of three water infrastructure construction projects in Western Australia to receive a total of $57.8 million from the Federal Government.
These three projects are designed to help better manage water nitrate levels, protect infant health, reduce reliance on coastal bores for water and build an advanced recycled water treatment plant for industry and drinking supplies across communities including Bunbury, Busselton and Guilderton.
Simone McGurk, Western Australian Minister for Water, said the government recognises that this project is a vital part of ensuring the future water supply needs of communities in the south west can be met.
“We know we live in a drying climate, and that is why we’re investing in innovative solutions to help future-proof our water supply for the next generation,” she said.
“Building up water security infrastructure to respond to climate change is a state government priority.
“Providing funding for this project in partnership with the Federal Government reflects our commitment to ensure our drinking water supplies and water resources are protected into the future.”
David Hughes-Owen, Busselton Water Chief Executive Officer,said the way water in Busselton is managed must evolve.
“It is clear that our traditional coastal bore network is no longer sustainable for the future due to the impacts of climate change,” he said.
“Studies show that our water supply is under threat due to saltwater intrusion, declining rainfall and increasing demand.
“Busselton Water’s bores are situated near the coast, and climate change is causing lower rainfall, rising sea levels, and drier temperatures, forcing saltwater to intrude into the aquifers in the coastal sections.”
For more information, https://www.busseltonwater.wa.gov.au/
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