• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home News

$29 million upgrade to Busselton flood defences

by Annabelle Powell
September 10, 2021
in News, Water and Wastewater Treatment
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Busselton Western Australia
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Western Australia Water Minister, Dave Kelly, has announced the completion of the $29 million upgrade to the Vasse Diversion Drain, strengthening the city’s flood protection.

 Re-engineered to safely convey a 1-in-100-year flood, the 6.3km drain diverts the Vasse and Upper Sabina rivers to Geographe Bay. It is a critical component of Busselton’s flood mitigation, as rainfall events become more severe due to climate change.

 To increase the drain’s capacity by a third, Water Corporation’s project involved widening 5.5km of the channel and reconstructing the levee banks, originally built in the 1920s. The diversion dam was also re-engineered, including outlet and overflow structures, and a pedestrian bridge extended to span the wider channel.

In addition to allowing greater control of the flows, the essential upgrades assist with water quality management in the Lower Vasse River, helping improve the health of the waterway.

 Completed on time and under budget by head contractor Vasse Joint Venture – an arrangement between Westforce Construction and JWI Contractors – the project created more than 300 local jobs, including 10 apprentices, and employing three Aboriginal subcontractors. 

In total, it invested around $9.5 million in the South-West – more than double the original target.

Minister Kelly said, “Water Corporation and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation consulted with 15 local environmental groups to develop an impressive $3 million revegetation plan for the surrounding bushland. It will not only offset project vegetation clearing and improve the community experience of the area but also enhance its ecological function.”

 As part of this plan, more than 220,000 seedlings are being planted across 15 hectares of the surrounding area over the next two to three years to improve local biodiversity. In addition, 88 fauna shelters and 15 rope bridges for western ringtail possums have been installed, accompanied by educational signage.

Related Posts

AWA National Water Awards

South East Water celebrates AWA recognition

by Sarah MacNamara
May 23, 2025

The Australian Water Association has shone a spotlight on South East Water at OzWater’25, with two of the utility’s projects...

Mernda Community Garden’s Bernie Warner. Image: Yarra Valley Water

YVW boosting community irrigation

by Sarah MacNamara
May 23, 2025

A popular community garden in Mernda that has been at risk of running out of water during prolonged dry periods...

Matthew Harris, Gordon Naley and Tiarnee Lester, have made the leap from interns to employees at WA’s regional energy provider. Image: Horizon Power

Horizon Power interns energise industry

by Sarah MacNamara
May 23, 2025

Western Australia’s energy sector has gained three new passionate employees, thanks to an internship program linking Aboriginal university students to...

Please login to join discussion

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Utility is the title of choice for decision makers at all levels of water and energy utilities, as well as other major players like consulting engineers and first-tier contractors. Utility is integrated across print and online, and explores the biggest news and issues across the utility industry. It is Australia’s only dedicated utility magazine, and covers all areas of the utility sector, including water and sewer, gas, electricity, communications and the NBN.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Utility

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Digital magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Spotlight
  • Civil Construction
  • Renewable Energy

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited