Future water source planning in Great Southern Region

As part of our water supply planning, we are now investigating new areas for a potential future seawater desalination plant near Albany. 

The areas are:

• Nanarup 
• South Coast - Sandpatch

A new water source is expected to be required for the Lower Great Southern drinking water supply by 2030.

Please see a map showing the new areas of investigation below. 

What did you do to arrive at these options?  

We completed an initial desktop assessment, which found these two areas to be the most promising for further investigation. 

This assessment considers what we currently know about environmental, social, technical, economic, operations and construction related factors as well as regulatory and approval requirements.  
It is not a comprehensive assessment and is only an initial step in determining the most suitable area for further detailed investigations. 

Community and stakeholder engagement will be a key part of the next steps.

We also acknowledge that there may not be a perfect solution. Finding a location to satisfy community, environmental, constructability and operating constraints will be challenging.

Why are these areas looking favourable?

Distance from Albany

The two areas are located close to Albany. Early investigations indicate we should be able to connect into the current water supply network at both locations. The Nanarup area is near the large water main pipeline from the existing Two People’s Bay Water Treatment Plant. The South Coast – Sandpatch area is near the South Coast Water Treatment Plant.

Seawater desalination plants (like most water sources) need long and large water pipelines to carry the water to where it is needed. 

We look to find efficient routes for pipelines and install them in areas already clear of vegetation, where possible. However, long and large pipelines usually involve some vegetation clearing and can also impact private landowners. 

That’s why it’s usually better to have seawater desalination plants closer to where the water is needed - to help reduce environmental and social impacts.

Environmental considerations

New water infrastructure must ensure the unique and important environmental value of the South Coast region is protected. Wherever possible, we avoid installing new water infrastructure in sensitive areas, such as National Parks and Nature Reserves. Large areas of Albany’s coastline are protected by National Parks and Nature Reserves, and with King George Sound ruled out for seawater desalination infrastructure, limited areas are available. 

What other areas have you considered? 

We’ve been looking at potential seawater desalination infrastructure sites since an initial study was completed in 2009. We’ve reviewed a large area, spanning from Walpole to 50km east of Albany. In late 2022 we began community and stakeholder engagement, and some investigation activities at three potential seawater desalination infrastructure sites: Princess Royal Harbour, South Coast – Torndirrup and Frenchman Bay. Through this process we also explored Vancouver Peninsula and Salmon Holes.

Princess Royal Harbour was ruled out in late 2024 due to water quality concerns identified through monitoring, and the presence of significant Aboriginal cultural values highlighted during engagement with Traditional Owners. We also ruled out progressing Vancouver Peninsula and Salmon Holes due to significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values.  

Investigations at the South Coast – Torndirrup site were discontinued due to safety and logistical challenges. Sea conditions and shifting ocean sediments made continued environmental monitoring unsafe. High cliffs would pose issues for the installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of marine infrastructure.   

Hydrodynamic modelling of the marine environment in Frenchman Bay had commenced, however desalination options in King George Sound were ruled out in January 2025 due to community concern and this work was discontinued. 

We’ve re-assessed our options and identified two alternative areas for investigation.

What happens next?

We're still in the early stages of investigating these areas. We want your feedback to help shape our next steps. That’s why, over the coming months, we’ll be inviting you to share your thoughts on the two areas. We want to understand what matters most to you as we plan new water infrastructure.

Visit us in-person this Saturday 5 July at All at Sea, at the Albany Boatshed.  
Our team will be there to listen and answer any questions you have. 

Or reach out to the team at Community.Engagement@watercorporation.com.au to share feedback or ask a question. 

23 January 2025

Following recent announcements, we are no longer progressing investigations into a potential desalination plant at King George Sound in Albany. 

We are still in the planning phase of the project will continue investigating seawater desalination and groundwater options. We will provide further updates in coming weeks.

27 April 2024

The project team attended the Albany Port Open Day on the 27th of April 2024 to share the latest on our new water source investigations with the local community.

It was great to take part in such a well-run event. Seeing the scale of the operations and learning about the inner workings of the port was fascinating! 

We spoke to over 100 local community members on the day and had really valuable conversations, not only about our investigations, but also about our existing water source and the challenges we're facing with the effects of climate change and forecast increases in demand.

Thanks to everyone who came down and we look forward to seeing you again when we are next in Albany. 

15 February 2024

In mid-February 2024, the project team took six members of the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation Cultural Advisory Committee on a half-day tour of the proposed desalination sites.

The purpose of the tour was for the project team to understand the cultural values of the proposed desalination sites and incorporate any feedback from Wagyl Kaip SNAC CAC into our decision making.

We will now progress with further surveys to support our ongoing investigations. 

28 June 2023

Water Corporation’s authorised consultants, Advisian, and a commercial boat operator will begin investigations in Frenchman Bay, Princess Royal Harbour and off the South Coast in late June 2023. 

The work will take three days. Exact work dates will depend on weather conditions and availability of contractors and their vessels. Further sampling and data collection will take place on a quarterly basis for up to 24 months. 

27 May 2023

The project team hosted two drop-in sessions in Albany on Friday, 26 May and Saturday, 27 May 2023. 

We had many interesting conversations and received useful feedback that will help inform our investigation pathway. Thank you to those who joined us to learn more about our new water source investigations.

We are now progressing with further planning for the investigations, and will keep the community updated as we progress. Sign up for updates via the link on the webpage to hear the latest project news.

29 July 2022

We’re pleased to advise fieldwork for our Aboriginal Heritage survey in the Manypeaks, Two Peoples Bay, Big Grove, Little Grove and Goode Beach areas has now been completed. This work is part of an investigation into groundwater and seawater desalination as future water source options in the areas.

Thank you to those landowners for facilitating access to private properties.

16 December 2021

We’re pleased to advise fieldwork for our environmental survey in the Manypeaks, Two Peoples Bay, Torndirrup, Big Grove, Little Grove and Goode Beach areas has now been completed. This work is part of an investigation into groundwater and seawater desalination as future water source options in the areas.

Thank you to those landowners for facilitating access to private properties. The survey area was large – extending much further than the actual area required for any infrastructure – to ensure we could capture accurate environmental data and to put any results into context. The consultants will now take the next few months to sort and analyse all the data collected, and prepare findings.

Next, we are preparing to undertake Aboriginal heritage surveys in the same areas with Traditional Owners, in the new year. We will write to affected landowners regarding this.

Happy holidays!