Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced the completion of the latest Community Water Supply project at Yuna in the Shire of Chapman Valley.
Many communities in the State's Mid-West have experienced significantly reduced rainfall as a result of climate change.
The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program is part of the McGowan Government's ongoing commitment to ensure our farmers have access to reliable agricultural and emergency livestock drinking water supplies especially during dry periods when on-farm supplies are depleted.
The Shire of Chapman Valley received a $100,000 grant through the program to upgrade a 30-year-old pump and pipe infrastructure from the Rockwell bore to improve supply of non-potable water to the Yuna townsite located east of Geraldton.
A total 12 kilometres of new pipework have been laid from Rockwell bore to the town of Yuna with the bore also fitted with a new submersible pump. Additional solar panels were installed to help increase the pumping capacity of the bore to deliver more water to the town.
The project will enable the ongoing use of non-potable water from the Rockwell bore to irrigate the sporting facilities and public open space in Yuna. The additional water supply can also be used as a valuable emergency source for livestock and firefighting.
A new 132 kilolitre capacity tank was also installed at the Yuna sporting ground to assist in storing water for use at the site.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's Community Water Supplies Partnerships Program, in partnership with local government, provides a maximum of $100,000 per project for local government and community groups to develop off-farm community water supplies.
The program is supported by the National Water Grid Connections Funding project.
Since 2017, the McGowan Government has provided $8.95 million in funding through a range of targeted programs and partnered with local government to deliver much needed additional off-farm water supplies for rural Western Australian communities.
By developing and increasing the number of non-drinking water sources for regional communities and emergency use, this funding will help provide a longer-term solution for WA farmers when dealing with the impacts of climate change and will support liveable and climate resilient communities in rural WA.
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"The project will improve amenities in Chapman Valley and reduce the Shire's reliance on scheme water to irrigate the local sporting oval and townscapes.
"It will help enhance community life for people living in Yuna and the surrounding area, and allow for more community social and sporting events to be held.
"This is a significant investment in the future of the Shire and in the future of Yuna's local water supply."
As stated by Agricultural Region MLC Sandra Carr:
"Yuna's water supply is integral to the overall wellbeing and success of the community.
"Investments such as these delivered as part of the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program are vital as they provide our farmers with access to reliable agricultural and emergency livestock drinking water supplies, and build climate resilience capacity."
