WA Water Minister, Mia Davies, has announced there has been overwhelming interest in helping to increase the availability of water from Wellington Dam.
The project is part of the $5.7 million Myalup-Wellington Water for Food project which explores water supply options to lessen reliance on groundwater supplies and promote agricultural and industry development in the region.
Ms Davies said they received 15 responses from wide range of organisations and the response is a positive step for the project and the region.
“Expressions of interest in the Wellington Dam project closed earlier this month and the strong response received is encouraging,” Ms Davies said.
“In the near future we hope to have a solution to increase water availability from the dam and promote the expansion of both the Myalup Irrigated Agricultural Precinct and the Collie River Irrigation District.”
Regional Development Minister, Terry Redman, said the $40 million Royalties for Regions Water for Food program was focused on increasing economic growth in regional communities.
“This is a significant investment by the State Government to increase the size of irrigation districts and create sustainable regional communities,” Mr Redman said.
The Myalup-Wellington Technical Advisory Group, supported by the Department of Water, will now assess the 15 local and international responses. Shortlisted respondents will be notified by the end of the year and invited to submit a Response to a Formal Process (RFP).
Wellington Dam is the second largest reservoir in the State and the largest surface water storage in the South-West, but rising salinity has resulted in much of the annual 85 gigalitres of water allocation not being fully used.
