The Western Australian (WA) Government has broken ground on a major upgrade of the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme (GAWSS).  

The planned A$543m ($378m) investment aims to reinforce water security for more than 100,000 people in the Goldfields and Wheatbelt regions. 

To be delivered by Water Corporation, the project will see 44.5km of the existing 566km pipeline replaced and the Binduli Reservoir duplicated to increase the scheme’s carrying capacity by 10%.  

The government specified that the new pipeline will be manufactured in Kwinana from Pilbara iron ore and Cockburn cement, with an intended operational life of up to 150 years. 

Construction activity related to the upgrade is expected to create more than 330 jobs.  

The state government said regional businesses will benefit from A$42.4m in works, with A$14m of that allocated to Aboriginal businesses. 

Premier Roger Cook stated: “This project is about securing the infrastructure regional communities need to grow and thrive. As part of our Seven Cities vision, we're ensuring the Goldfields has the essential services needed to create jobs and support new economic opportunities in regional WA.  

“By manufacturing the pipeline in WA, we're backing local industry today, and with a lifespan of up to 150 years, we're delivering the water security and economic foundations the Goldfields and Wheatbelt will rely on for generations to come.” 

The GAWSS, engineered by CY O’Connor and constructed between 1898 and 1903, has been a critical water supply to communities in the region for over a century.  

The current upgrade forms a key part of the state’s Seven Cities framework, which focuses on supporting future regional development with essential infrastructure. 

According to the government, these upgrades are intended to ensure ongoing reliable water supply and to underpin new opportunities for investment and growth in the Goldfields and Wheatbelt.