Water Minister, Mia Davies, has announced the beginning of a three-year, $32 million project to significantly improve the performance of the Water Corporation’s farmlands water supply system. This project is also a part of the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme.
Communities in the agricultural east and west districts of the Wheatbelt are served by more than 7,800 kilometres of farmlands water supply pipelines.
Ms Davies said the farmlands pipelines had a history of leaks and breaks, many at a higher rate than the rest of the State’s rural water supply network.
“The State Government has recognised the disruption leaks and breaks cause its farmlands customers in the Wheatbelt,” she said.
“Over the next three years, we will work with the community and invest $32 million on projects to help reduce leaks and breaks – which will in turn reduce water supply interruptions and water loss.”
More than 64 kilometres of pipeline will be replaced and 7,500 pipeline joints will be repaired through a preventative maintenance program, known as banding.
Water meters for farmlands customers will be replaced with smart water meters, which will help identify leaks on customer properties and the wider supply scheme. It is anticipated these meters could save up to 250 million litres of water each year.
Officers from the Water Corporation recently met with the Wheatbelt Development Commission, Northam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Wheatbelt Business Network to obtain their input into how local contractors and employment could be engaged in the works.
“It’s great to see the Water Corporation’s efforts to use local contractors and I encourage Wheatbelt businesses to take part in this important project. Details of how contractors can get involved in the project will be available on the Water Corporation’s website in the near future,” Ms Davies said.
