The proposed Myalup Wellington Project could be close to securing necessary Federal Government funding after the project was recently upgraded to ‘priority project’ status by Infrastructure Australia.
The Myalup Wellington Project is led by Collie Water and seeks to decrease the salinity of the water in Wellington Dam in order to provide a more sustainable water supply for farmers.
The project would see saline water flowing into the dam diverted to a desalination plant near Collie before being returned upstream.
Collie Water chairman Peter Fogarty said the recognition from Infrastructure Australia would hopefully open the door for Federal Government funding.
“This project is vital to maintaining the region’s role as an agricultural centre and Infrastructure Australia’s assessment is an important step along the path toward securing Commonwealth funding for the project,” he said.
“We are hopeful that the Commonwealth will now favourably consider the State Government’s application for funding of our project.”
The State Government has committed $37 million to help fund the project through the Royalties for Regions program.
Harvey Water and Collie Water will invest $175 million, while Harvey Water members will also invest a further $30 million for the project.
The project was originally seeking $140 million from the Federal Government, although $40 million would be enough for the project to start.
Nationals MPs visited Canberra in January to meet with Federal ministers about the project.
South West MLC Colin Holt said under the proposal put forward by the Nationals, the project would receive $40 million from Commonwealth’s National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, with a further $60 million concessional loan given to the Myalup Wellington Project.
“Our support of this arrangement would be contingent on stakeholders having the option to apply for future funds to ensure the entire Myalup-Wellington project can be completed,” Mr Holt said.
“The importance of this funding cannot be overstated and is demonstrated by the commitment of local farmers associated with the project who have pledged $30 million of their own funds.”
