Move to fix dam salinity to help farms
SOUTH West producers could receive a boost with the State Government planning to fix salinity problems at Wellington Dam and use the water to irrigate farmland.
The second stage of the Water for Food program has been launched and $5.7 million has been awarded to the Myalup-Wellington project which is intended to investigate water supply options in supporting the expansion of the Myalup and Collie irrigation districts.
The project will explore downstream salinity treatment of water from Wellington Dam for irrigation - decreasing the reliance on existing groundwater supplies.
Water Minister Mia Davies said, in preparation for the project, she had consulted with stakeholders in the district and established the Myalup-Wellington Steering Group to look at how to deal with salinity issues.
"The Myalup-Wellington Steering Group will be heard at the top levels of Government by feeding into the Water for Food Ministerial Steering Committee," she said.
"It will be supported by a technical advisory group, with all water treatment proposals, concepts and water delivery models to be independently assessed."
Ms Davies said salinity in Wellington Dam was limiting growth in the Collie River Irrigation District and its potential to create jobs.
"Right now Western Australia has just 50,000ha under irrigation. We have the potential - matching water with arable land - for far more," she said.
"There is only 6000ha of irrigated land in the Waroona, Harvey and Collie River irrigation area - yet the total irrigable land in this district is estimated to be 34,000ha."
"I am not prepared to accept the status quo where irrigators are not embracing Wellington Dam water."
In another potential boost to South West producers, Harvey Water - which is a cooperative run by farmers - announced plans to raise the level of Burekup Weir and build a network of gravity-fed pipes to irrigate farmland.
Harvey Water general manager Geoff Calder said the estimated cost of the plan was $134 million and the company was prepared to put $24 million of its own money into the project.
"We are looking for investment from government and private industry," he said.
