$543m invested to fast track Goldfields water supply scheme upgrade

The Western Australian Government is investing $543 million in the 2025-26 State Budget to fast track the delivery of Stage 1 upgrades to the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme (GAWSS). 

GAWSS stretches from Mundaring Weir to Kalgoorlie, including the heritage-listed Goldfields Pipeline, and it is the longest water scheme in the State. It supplies more than 100,000 homes, farms, mines, and businesses in the region. 

The 566-kilometre pipeline has played a critical role in sustaining residential, agricultural, and industrial activities in the region since it was commissioned in 1903. However, the scheme is now operating close to capacity during peak summer months due to sustained economic growth. 

“A secure and reliable water supply is essential to the future of the Goldfields, a region that plays a pivotal role in our State’s continued economic success. 

“The Cook Government’s $543 million commitment for stage one upgrades will improve supply reliability for the community while supporting immediate growth in mining, industry and the community more broadly. 

“With well over a century of service, the Goldfields Pipeline remains a key piece of infrastructure. These works will ensure it continues to meet modern demands,” Water Minister Don Punch said. 

Water Corporation started planning for the scheme’s capacity increase in 2021 and has identified a staged upgrade as the most efficient and cost-effective approach to meet initial and long-term demand. 

Planning was supported by a $15 million investment under the previous State Budget to progress design and engineering works. 

Stage 1 of the GAWSS project will increase capacity by up to 7.2 million litres a day from 2027 to meet growth as well as industrial expansion while enhancing the reliability of the scheme. 

The project will involve: 

• Replacement of 44.5 kilometres of ageing pipeline, mostly the original locking bar pipe, in the Shires of Merredin, Westonia and Yilgarn, with new sections installed primarily below ground alongside the existing route 

• Valve upgrades to improve network reliability 

• Upgrades to the Binduli Reservoir in Kalgoorlie, doubling the water storage capacity 

Works are anticipated to commence in early 2026, subject to State and Federal environmental and heritage approvals. 

The project will be delivered in line with a heritage interpretation strategy and management plan – informed by a 2023 community research project – to help preserve the heritage value of the 122-year-old Goldfields Pipeline. 

The essential GAWSS upgrades form part of the State Government’s broader strategy to secure drinking water supplies in the face of a changing climate and support economic growth across regional Western Australia. 

“For more than 120 years, the historic Goldfields Water Pipeline has been a lifeline for our region – supporting our communities and powering industry. 

“This incredibly significant investment from the Cook Government is something I’ve been advocating strongly over the last four years. 

“The increased supply of water for the Goldfields will deliver essential upgrades to ensure the pipeline keeps pace with what our community needs now, while work continues on planning for our future,” Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent said. 

Source: Government of Western Australia – Media Statements; Water Corporation (1, 2); ABC News; Mining.com.au