Federal and State governments to spend $60m on new water treatment plant for Busselton Water

The Federal and State governments will spend a combined $60 million on improvements to Busselton’s water supply amid increasing demand and risk. Busselton Water will use the funding to construct a new water treatment plant and bore for the city, which will increase its water supply capacity by 20 per cent and reduce pressure on water bores located close to the coastline. It comes as the South West deals with water supply issues caused by saltwater intrusion alongside decreasing rainfall and increasing demand. Busselton Water chief executive David Hughes-Owen said the way water was managed in the city needed to evolve due to the traditional bore network being unsustainable with the impacts of climate change. “Studies show that our water supply is under threat due to saltwater intrusion, declining rainfall and increasing demand,” he said. “Busselton Water’s bores are situated near the coast, and climate change is causing lower rainfall, rising sea levels, and drier temperatures, forcing saltwater to intrude into the aquifers in the coastal sections.” The upgrades are set to be the biggest undertaken by Busselton Water in decades and designed to also help support the area’s growing population. Busselton Water is proposing to build the new plant on a four hectare site opposite the Busselton-Margaret River Airport. Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said water was one of the most precious resources. “Projects like the construction of a new water treatment plant in Busselton means that locals have access to higher quality drinking water – and more of it,” she said. State Water Minister Simone McGurk said the project was a vital part of ensuring future water needs in the South West were met. “We know we live in a drying climate, and that is why we’re investing in innovative solutions to help future proof our water supply for the next generation,” she said.