Biggest ever annual capital wks program for water/wastewater services

6/5/99
The biggest ever annual capital works program for Western Australia's water and wastewater services was announced today by Water Resources Minister Dr Kim Hames.
A total of $465 million has been earmarked for projects in 1999-2000 to benefit people throughout the State, with an emphasis on securing water supplies for Perth, Mandurah and the Goldfields.
Dr Hames said this was an increase of 28 per cent over the $360 million program for 1998-99, and further demonstrated the State Government's and Water Corporation's joint determination to provide services vital to the State's development - and demanded by customers.
"This will ensure the corporation stays on track to fund an unprecedented $2.15 billion, five-year capital works program through to 2004," the Minister said.
"While a major thrust will be to bring on accelerated water source developments, there will again be a strong commitment to protecting the environment.
"This includes continuing with the $800 million Infill Sewerage Program, now into its fifth year, and construction or upgrading of wastewater treatment plants in nine South-West centres which will incorporate the latest available technology."
Dr Hames said an average two per cent increase in water, sewerage and drainage rates across the State would contribute to the expanded capital works program.
"Water service charges applied to all residential properties will increase by $2.60 to $132.70," he said.
"The average residential customer using 310 kilolitres a year and connected to the sewerage system will pay $11.80 more per year.
"Drainage charges, which affect 40 per cent of householders in the Perth metropolitan area, will increase by an average of $4.45."
Dr Hames said about $140 million would be spent in 1999-2000 on boosting water supplies for Perth, Mandurah and the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply scheme.
"This will go a long way to providing those places with the water supply security they enjoyed some 25 years ago before they entered what has now been identified as a sustained period of lower rainfall," he said.
"It includes major work on the proposed new Harvey Dam project, subject to environmental approval. The lion's share of funding will go towards construction of the first stage of a trunk main between Harvey and Rockingham to connect with the main metropolitan supply network.
"Other source development work includes construction of the new Lexia groundwater scheme and the second stage of the Neerabup groundwater scheme in the northern metropolitan area.
"Eight new bores will be drilled, including two deep artesian bores which are expected to become the biggest production bores in Western Australia, pumping up to 20 million litres each daily into the Perth supply system from depths of one kilometre in the Yarragadee formation in the Wanneroo area."
Other highlights of the year's capital works program include:

• $89.9 million to continue the 10-year, $800 million Infill Sewerage Program to provide sewerage services to areas where waterways and groundwater are threatened by pollution from septic tanks. Geraldton, Esperance, Toodyay, Carnarvon, Donnybrook, Busselton and Dongara will be major beneficiaries in country areas;

• $19.6 million towards projects to upgrade wastewater treatment plants at Dunsborough, Collie, Australind, Margaret River, Busselton, Geraldton, Bunbury and Manjimup, and construct a new plant at Bridgetown;

• $32 million for upgrading of the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated sewerage works in a five-year project announced last year to increase the plant's capacity by about 28 per cent and improve the quality of treated wastewater;

• $9.7 million towards construction of the Wembley section of a major program to replace the ageing Perth Main Sewer which is suffering severe corrosion;

• $6.9 million to boost the Geraldton water supply by about 20 per cent to keep up with growing demand. Three new bores will be drilled at the Allanooka borefield, and about 19km of duplicated mains supply pipeline into Geraldton will be added to improve flow, water quality and reliability;

• $5.5 million towards a project to boost the water supply at Dunsborough to cope with rapid expansion of the tourist and holiday industry and increased residential development; and $5 million towards community and farm water supply projects in regional WA.