22/5/03
A major upgrade of wastewater treatment facilities in the Australind-Eaton area was officially opened today by Government Enterprises Minister Nick Griffiths.
Mr Griffiths said the new $13million Kemerton Wastewater Treatment Plant was the result of comprehensive planning studies which began almost 10 years ago.
Four separate wastewater disposal options were investigated before the Kemerton Industrial Area site was chosen as the most suitable.
On a tour of the facility, the Minister was accompanied by students from Australind Primary School who followed construction of the plant, located 14km north of Bunbury, as part of their environmental studies.
"This area is part of one of the fastest growing regions in Australia," Mr Griffiths said.
"Local authorities, industries and rapidly-growing communities, such as the Australind Eaton area, are naturally keen to tap into improved water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities.
"In the case of Australind-Eaton, this was not a straightforward task. In fact, 11 studies were completed before it was possible to develop a long-term strategy for the area."
Mr Griffiths said the new facility, which had a daily capacity to treat three million litres of wastewater, replaced two old treatment plants at Australind and Eaton, opening the way for eventual redevelopment of the land.
A 30ha woodlot would be established in the Kemerton industrial area, following the success of similar Water Corporation projects in other parts of Western Australia.
"When this woodlot is built it will continue the trend in country WA, where overall more than 40 per cent of treated wastewater is reused," the Minister said.
"Country areas are leading Perth in wastewater re-use, providing an excellent example as the Government continued to work toward a State-wide water recycling target of 20 per cent by 2012."
Mr Griffiths said a key feature of the project was the ability of the Water Corporation to minimise impact on the natural environment, including an historic one-kilometre length of pipeline from Australind-Eaton positioned under the Collie and Brunswick rivers.
"The Government is very pleased that an outmoded treatment system has now been replaced by state-of-the-art technology," he said.
"This essentially concludes the total upgrading of wastewater treatment and disposal facilities for the greater Bunbury area."
Minister's office: 9222 8950
