Nannup Standby Bore

What’s happening?

Water Corporation is planning upgrades to the Warren–Blackwood Regional Water Supply Scheme over the coming years to improve its reliability and efficiency.

As part of this work, we are currently constructing a new standby bore approximately 300 metres from the existing bore at the Thomas Road site in Nannup. Work is now underway and is progressing well.

Construction Update - July 2026

Since late April 2026, our authorised contractor, Clear Cut Interventions, has been constructing the new standby bore.

While drilling has reached the planned depth, additional work is ongoing to clean and condition the bore before construction can be completed.

The project was originally expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete. However, due to unforeseen technical challenges, the work has taken longer than anticipated. We currently expect the work to be complete in mid July 2026, and will keep you informed of any further changes to the schedule.

Drilling equipment is required to remain on site while the bore is cleaned and conditioned. This process can generate noticeable sound.

We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this work. We will continue to take all reasonable steps to minimise impacts wherever possible.

When is this happening?

Preparatory work at the site was completed in late 2025. This included establishing the drilling pad and constructing a temporary settling pond.

Our authorised contractor, Clear Cut Interventions, is now drilling and preparing a new standby bore so it can be equipped in the future. This work started in late April 2026 and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. 

Work will take place between 7:00am and 7:00pm, Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. These hours will help reduce the overall duration of the work.  

What else is planned?

• Standby Bore testing: We expect to return in the coming months to undertake final bore testing. This work is expected to take approximately three to four days. We will provide advance notice once dates have been confirmed.

• Temporary settling pond removal: The temporary settling pond is expected to be removed in late 2026. This work is anticipated to take around four weeks to complete. We will provide advance notice once dates have been confirmed.

What to expect?

• Dust, vibration and vehicle movements: During work hours, you may notice increased noise, dust, vibration and additional vehicle activity.

• Noise: To construct the new standby bore, drilling equipment needs to reach deep below ground. Because of this depth, the drilling process can be quite loud. While this type of work cannot be completed quietly, we will try to minimise noise wherever possible.

• Emptying the temporary settling pond: During tis work, water from the bore is being directed to a temporary settling pond. The pond is being progressively emptied through controlled releases to the environment in accordance with regulatory approvals. The water does not contain any harmful chemicals, although it may contain slightly elevated levels of naturally occurring minerals.

We will continue to take all reasonable steps to reduce disruption wherever possible and complete this work as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding while we carry out this essential work.

Why is this happening?

To support a reliable water supply for the region, a new standby bore is being constructed near the existing bore at the Thomas Road site. Once equipped, the new bore will operate alternately with the current one, enabling routine maintenance without service interruptions and providing a backup supply in the event of bore failure.