$29M allocated for capital works in SW region

29/7/94

The Water Authority will spend $29 million on capital works in the South-West this financial year - the largest budget for five years.

Water Resources Minister and Warren MLA Paul Omodei said the 1994-95 budget was the biggest since 1989-90, the year construction began on the $39 million Harris Dam, the last major project in the South-West.

"Over the past five years capital works expenditure in the South-West has averaged $18 million," the Minister said.

"This year's $29 million program is significantly higher due to the new infill sewerage program and represents a major boost for the private sector which will carry out a large proportion of the work."

About $9 million would be spent in the South-West in the first year of the ten year $800 million infill sewerage program - representing a sizeable chunk of the $65 million to be spent Statewide in Year 1.

Mr Omodei said another highlight of the budget was the water source projects at Margaret River, Dunsborough and Augusta.

"These projects will solve the problems experienced during last summer's record dry period," he said.

"The new Margaret River Ten Mile Brook Dam, and upgrades at the Dunsborough and Augusta town water supplies, are all due for completion this financial year."

Mr Omodei said over 50 per cent of projects in the 1994-95 South-West budget were needed because of the South-West's increasing growth rate, particularly in the Bunbury, Mandurah and Busselton districts.

Major works in the Bunbury area include:

·       $2.9 million - funding under the Building Better Cities program for continued work to expand the No 2 Bunbury wastewater treatment plant;

·       $0.8 million - relocation of the No 1 Bunbury wastewater treatment plant;

·       $3 million - infill sewerage Carey Park (Frankel Street, Nuytsia Avenue area) and the town of Dardanup; and -

·       $1.8 million - continued upgrading of the Australind water treatment plant on Old Coast Road.

Features of other South-West districts are:

Mandurah region -

·       $1.6 million - establishment of the Mandurah telemetry system, a computerised system to enable remote control operation of schemes from the Mandurah operations centre;

·       $0.8 million - replacement of the Mandurah No 1 pumping main, pumping to the Gordon Road wastewater treatment plant; and -

·       $2.2 million - infill sewerage Furnissdale townsite and the remainder of the North Yunderup townsite.

Busselton area -

·       $0.6 million - completion of the new Margaret River Ten Mile Brook Dam; and -

·       $1.8 million - completion of the upgrades to the Dunsborough and Augusta town water supplies.

Manjimup/Pemberton -

·       $1.8 million - infill sewerage Manjimup (Muir, Graphite and Doust Streets area) and completion of the wastewater treatment plant and pump station in Pemberton.

Harvey -

·       $0.2 million - automation of the Burekup Weir and distribution controls to enable remote control of water flows from the Harvey operations centre.

Collie -

·       $0.2 million - commence upgrading the Collie No 3 effluent pump station.

Mr Omodei said 1994-95 would be a challenging and exciting year for the Water Authority's South-West region.

"Due to the size of the overall program, much of the work I have outlined will be carried out by the private sector," he said

"Under new Government competitive tendering and contracting guidelines, tenders must be called for contracts above $1 million, and importantly, this contract limit will be reduced to $500,000 in September and will include planning, design, project management and construction services."

Media contact:  Amanda O'Brien  222 9595