New $15 million water treatment plant to be built in Glen Iris

Mr McGowan joined Water Minister Dave Kelly at the site of the new plant with construction set to begin in the first half of next year. 

“This is an important project that will secure the future drinking supplies of the Greater Bunbury region,” Mr McGowan said. 

The plant will be capable of producing 10 megalitres of drinking water per day – the equivalent of four Olympic swimming pools. 

Mr Kelly said the new treatment plant will improve water quality in the area. 

“The South West of WA is one of three places in the world most impacted by climate change,” he said. 

“This project will help protect water quality in the Bunbury area by safeguarding against seawater intrusion caused by climate change.”

Currently, Bunbury’s water is drawn from several bores along the coast where the risk of increasing salinity levels threaten water quality. The new plant will extract water from a higher quality in-land groundwater bore. 

Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the important project would support the future development and growth of the city. “This is exactly the type of project we need for Bunbury, one that improves our local infrastructure, supports projected growth and delivers on local jobs,” he said. 

Aqwest currently operates an integrated treatment and distribution system comprising 12 bores, six water treatment plants and four reservoirs.