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Works begin on renewal of WA's iconic Goldfields water pipeline

$543 million project to boost water capacity by 10% for mining and communities

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Works have commenced on the renewal of one of Western Australia's oldest pieces of infrastructure, the Perth to Kalgoorlie water pipeline, with a $543 million project to replace 44.5 kilometres of the 566-kilometre line and double the capacity of the Binduli Reservoir.

The project, which also includes doubling the Binduli Reservoir from 400 million litres to 800 million litres, is expected to boost the amount of water able to be pumped through the pipeline by 10 per cent. The pipeline, designed by famed WA engineer CY O'Connor, has served the Goldfields and Wheatbelt for 120 years.

Demand for water in the Goldfields has increased by 16 per cent in the past five years. Kalgoorlie's mining industry is currently hampered by a lack of commercial water supply, with the existing pipeline designated for drinking water only. Most businesses draw water from the ground, which is six times as salty as seawater.

WA Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli said from 2027 an additional 7.2 million litres would flow into the Goldfields every day. "The Goldfields pipeline is one of the most important pieces of economic infrastructure in the state's history," he said. "It served the Goldfields and the Wheatbelt for now 120 years, providing water to a whole vast range of different communities and industries, and supported economic development for many, many years. Today marks the beginning of the next chapter."

The new section of the pipeline runs through the shires of Westonia, Merredin, and Yilgarn, and much of it will be buried.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The upgrade addresses a 16% rise in water demand in the Goldfields over five years, directly affecting local mining operations that rely on poor-quality groundwater.
  • Additional water supply from 2027 could unlock commercial water access for mining, supporting economic growth in the region.
  • The project represents a major renewal of historic state infrastructure that has underpinned development for over a century.

Background

The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, designed by engineer CY O'Connor and completed in 1903, was a pioneering project that pumped water from the coast to the arid Goldfields region. It is 566 kilometres long and remains a critical piece of infrastructure for communities, agriculture and mining in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields. The current renewal is the latest chapter in its long history.

Key Perspectives

[WA Government]: Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli framed the project as a continuation of the pipeline's historic role in supporting communities and economic development, with work beginning on "the next chapter." [Mining industry]: Businesses in Kalgoorlie face a commercial water shortage; existing supply is limited to drinking water, forcing reliance on bore water with salinity six times that of seawater. The additional flow from the upgrade is expected to ease this constraint. [Critics/Skeptics]: No direct opposition is reported; the project addresses a known and widely acknowledged shortage.

What to Watch

  • Completion of the pipeline section and reservoir expansion by 2027.
  • Impact on mining output and business investment in the Goldfields once commercial water becomes available.
  • Potential for further pipeline upgrades as demand continues to grow.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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