Construction is set to begin on a 7.4kilometre pipeline linking Sovereign Hill to Guilderton in the Shire of Gingin as part of a joint Albanese and Cook government initiative designed to safeguard local drinking water supplies from the effects of climate change.
Delivered by Water Corporation, the $10 million project will supplement Guilderton's drinking water with a more sustainable groundwater source near Sovereign Hill.
By reducing reliance on shallow coastal aquifers that are more saline and increasingly vulnerable to declining rainfall, the new pipeline will strengthen water security and improve the aesthetic quality of the town's supply.
Jointly funded with the Australian Government through the National Water Grid Fund, the project also includes upgrades to treatment and control systems at both ends of the pipeline to further enhance reliability and system performance.
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
As stated by Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt:
"By connecting Guilderton to more sustainable groundwater reserves further inland, this project will bolster supply reliability and may otherwise impact the community's ability grow and prosper.
"The Albanese Government is pleased to partner with the Cook Government to invest in future-focused water infrastructure that helps regional communities stay resilient in the face of climate change and its impacts to drinking water."
Quotes As put by Western Australian Water Minister Don Punch:
"This project is a major step forward in strengthening the quality and reliability of drinking water for the Guilderton community.
"By drawing on deeper inland groundwater through the new pipeline, Water Corporation will be able to run the scheme with far greater flexibility, helping ensure the town has a secure, yearround supply.
"The Cook Government is focused on delivering the infrastructure that regional communities need, and this partnership with the Australian Government shows how we're working together to make it happen."
