Busselton Water appoints Arup to design new water plant

Busselton Water has announced leading engineering and design group Arup as the preferred consultant to deliver the preliminary design of its Busselton Water Supply Improvement Project – the largest water infrastructure upgrade undertaken by the local regional water utility in decades.

The water supply in the South West of Western Australia is under threat due to saltwater intrusion, declining rainfall and increasing demand, and this project is a vital part of Busselton Water’s plans to ensure the supply of high-quality drinking water can be maintained for generations to come.

It will result in the construction of a new water treatment plant and a bore approximately five kilometres inland, to connect to higher quality drinking water, reduce the pressure on the coastal bores and increase supply capacity by 20 per cent.

Busselton Water CEO David Hughes-Owen said this was an exciting step.

“The way we manage our water in Busselton must evolve as it is clear that our traditional coastal bore network is no longer sustainable for the future due to the impacts of climate change,” explained David.

“After exploring the project requirements and possible treatment technologies during the concept design study phase, we now look forward to working with Arup to progress that work to preliminary design.”

This phase is more than a technical design project – it will take a holistic approach to ensure that all aspects of the project are well-considered and that any risks are identified and mitigated.

Lewis Macdonald, Western Australia Leader, Arup said they were delighted to have the opportunity to work with Busselton Water on designing the new plant.

“Arup brings to the project a wealth of experience delivering innovative design for water projects across Australia and globally. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, we will design a plant that will help Busselton Water efficiently and effectively meet the region’s future water needs.”

It is expected that the preliminary design will commence this month (in September) and is expected to take around eight months to complete, before progressing to the detailed design and construction phases.

Funding for the project has been provided by the Australian Government through the National Water Grid Fund and the Western Australian Government.