Western Australia Connections package

Project overview

The Western Australia Connections package includes a range of infrastructure projects including:

• upgrades to increase water storage capacity
• new water recycling systems
• replacing existing pipelines.

These projects will improve water security for regional Australia, including farming communities.

Western Australia water infrastructure projects under the Connections pathway include:

• Cave Springs Road Tail Water Return System
  • Construction of 2 water recycling systems in the Ord River Irrigation Area, resulting in 2,400 megalitres (ML) of water savings each year. 
• Agricultural Area Dams and Strategic Community Water Supplies
  • Increased storage capacity of dams in priority areas. This provided more reliable agricultural and emergency livestock drinking water sources 
• Katanning to Kojonup Pipeline Enhancement
  • Replacement of existing pipeline at several sections between Katanning and Kojonup. This will increase water reliability and supply to farms in the region. 
• Jerramungup Dam Catchment Improvement
  • Resealing and relining catchments. This will increase runoff and water storage in the dams. It will provide greater reliability to almost all water users in the region.
• Gascoyne Irrigation Scheme Augmentation and Modernisation
  • This project will construct more bores and upgrade irrigation systems. This will increase water availability for horticultural production in the region.
• Community Water Supplies Partnership Program with Local Government
  • Delivered 76 water infrastructure projects across 38 local government areas. The projects constructed new and improved non-potable water supplies in priority areas.
• Ravensthorpe Dam Catchment Extension
  • Installation of 3 floating HexaCovers at 3 separate dams. This will reduce evaporation and provide more water for several Wheatbelt communities.
• Cranbrook Dam Catchment Improvement
  • Replacement of degraded bitumen in Cranbrook Dam 1 catchment. This will increase the volume of water in the dam by up to 15 ML each year, for agricultural and primary industry use.
• Wongutha Independent Water Security Pilot
  • Installation of a small-scale, solar powered water reverse osmosis desalination system pilot. The system will produce an extra 7.3 ML each year of fresh water for an Aboriginal school and small community.

These projects delivered:

• at least 450 jobs during construction and 45 ongoing jobs at full operation
• at least 500 more seasonal jobs at full operation
• at least 6,500 ML of increased water availability each year
• 561 hectares of extra irrigable land
• up to 8 new customers or properties connected to water supply.

Construction of the package was completed in July 2024.