Water Minister Dave Kelly today officially opened a new 32,500 kilolitre capacity dam constructed through a partnership between the McGowan Government and the Shire of Gnowangerup.
The Shire of Gnowangerup received $100,000 funding support from the McGowan Government, in addition to the Shire's contribution of $105,750.
The project involved the construction of a new dam with a connection to an existing tank also established, and with the construction of two new 250 kilolitre capacity tanks. The increased storage and improvements will optimise the capture of water from the airstrip and provide a reliable water supply for firefighters and bomber planes to access.
There was an existing 10,000 kilolitre dam that captured water off the runway and surrounding reserve, however, this was inaccessible and regularly overflowed. Connection between the two dams will now increase total capacity to 42,500 kilolitres.
The connection of this water supply to other dams will also allow the Shire to transfer water from one dam to another to optimise non-potable water storage for the community to access.
The airstrip is regionally important and heavily relied upon during the fire season. During the Stirling Range fires and Katanning fires that occurred during the summer of 2020, fire trucks had to access water from the scheme and Gnowangerup town dam, which prolonged their turn around and response to the fires. These water improvements will help to address this issue in future.
This is one of over 50 projects delivered by the McGowan Government as part of its ongoing commitment to ensure our farmers have access to reliable agricultural and emergency livestock drinking water sources, especially during dry periods when on-farm supplies are depleted.
So far, the McGowan Government has spent more than $3.7 million on direct water carting to central locations to support emergency livestock needs, $2.2 million on the development and upgrade of 65 strategic community water supplies, and $1.5 million towards partnerships with 17 local governments to upgrade community water supplies.
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"Like many communities in the State's south, Gnowangerup has experienced reduced rainfall as a result of climate change, so this additional source will provide an important additional off-farm water source for local farmers into the future.
"The increased storage will optimise the capture of water from the airstrip and also provide a reliable water supply for firefighters and bomber planes to access.
"I congratulate the Shire for the proactive development of its Water Strategy Plan and for implementing new initiatives including upgrades and water infrastructure developments at Toompup Dam and Magitup Dam (in Borden).
"This is just one of the many projects funded by the McGowan Government as part of its commitment to boost Strategic Community Water Supplies across the State's dryland agricultural regions, and ensure future water security for these communities."
As stated by Agricultural Region MLC Shelley Payne:
"One of the biggest challenges we are facing today is to manage the impacts that climate change is having on our precious water supply and water infrastructure.
"There is no doubt many regional communities have been doing it tough, with many areas having experienced record-low rainfall and dwindling on-farm water supplies in recent years.
"The McGowan Government's investment in hundreds of regional projects shows our commitment to supporting agricultural areas to deal with the impacts of climate change, and ensuring our farmers and rural communities have access to emergency water needs for animal welfare."
