A project designed to safeguard the South-West's water supply is expected to create more than 800 jobs for the region and inject $607 million into the economy.
Construction on the $400 million Myalup-Wellington Project is scheduled to begin in 2020 with delivery aimed between 2021 and 2025.
The project has been designed to create new opportunities for agricultural productivity and intensity in the Collie and Myalup regions by addressing rising salinity in Wellington Dam.
Project proponent Collie Water and project off-taker Harvey Water provided the business community with an update last week.
Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Seaward said water and food security was not just important to the region but to the state.
"The agricultural output from this region is significant and the irrigation system has made that possible over many years," he said.
"The rising salinity of the water from the dams and the aquifer will put this industry at risk if we fail to act.
"This project addresses these concerns and allows for expansion of the food production areas."
Mr Seaward said as a South-West project, regional businesses would be given the opportunity to tender on the various work packages.
"The ongoing benefit is that additional jobs will be created with the expansion of the increased agricultural output," he said.
"The time to act on this is now - rising salinity inflows and ingress of the salt line into the coastal bores will reduce the agricultural output if we don't."
With $175 million in grants from both the Federal and State Government, the project has strong bipartisan support with all sides of government recognising the need to reduce rising salinity levels of Wellington Dam.
Key elements of the project will include extraction, treatment, reforestation, piping and extension.
Harvey Water general manager Bradd Hamersley said it was the most cost effective solution.
For more visit colliewater.com.au.
