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South West Yarragadee - Water Resource Planning

The Department of Water is developing a sub-regional water management plan for the Blackwood, Busselton-Capel and Bunbury Groundwater Areas that addresses the needs of all users including the environment, existing licensees (including public water suppliers) and the potential requirements of future development in the South West region. This plan is being developed in consultation with the Whicher Water Resources Management Committee and will be subject to community consultation, prior to the final plan being released.

The Department is also assessing the Water Corporation's licence application to abstract 45 gigalitres of water annually from the South West Yarragadee aquifer, to increase supply to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. This scheme services approximately 1.5 million people in the Perth metropolitan area, Mandurah, Harvey, Pinjarra and various other regional towns in the state's South West region. The Water Corporation has identified the South West Yarragadee proposal as one option for securing Western Australia's water supply into the future.

The Department will ensure that the assessment of the Water Corporation's licence application is consistent with the sub-regional plan, as required under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914, to ensure that groundwater can be taken in a sustainable manner. This includes ensuring the environmental, economic, social, cultural and heritage issues of the proposal are managed appropriately. The Environmental Protection Authority, under their Environmental Review and Management Program, is simultaneously assessing the Water Corporation's proposal for environmental considerations.

If you have any further queries regarding the future of the South West Yarragadee, please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Water, or alternatively you may wish to view the related documents available under the Publications drop down menu above.

See also:

Fact Sheets

Groundwater Area Map

Newsletters

Reports to the Department

Summary Documents

Technical Reports