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Groundwater Replenishment Scheme Stage 2 Expansion

Expanding the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme to double recharge capacity.

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Project goal:

To expand the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme to double recharge capacity to 28 billion litres of water per year.

Status:

In construction

Delivery Date:

End 2019

What's happening?

We're rolling out Stage 2 of the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme, which involves constructing a second Advanced Water Recycling Plant at the Beenyup facility, drilling new bores for recharge and monitoring and building a new 13km pipeline.

To expand the scheme we will:

  • build a second Advanced Water Recycling Plant at the Beenyup facility in Craigie
  • drill four new recharge bores and four new monitoring bores in Wanneroo and Neerabup
  • build a 13km recharge pipeline connecting the Advanced Water Recycling Plant with the new bores.

Where is this happening?

The second plant will be located next to the original plant in Craigie and when complete, the two will share some infrastructure.

Below is a map depicting the pipeline route and recharge bore sites.

redline Pipeline route  Recharge site Beenyup site  Beenyup site Recharge site  

Why is this work taking place?

Due the impacts of climate change on Perth, a decision was made in July 2016 to expand our Groundwater Replenishment Scheme. This Scheme provides a new climate-independent water source to boost much needed drinking water supplies in Perth.

The expansion from Stage 2 will provide better certainty for Perth's water supplies, with the Scheme's capacity increasing from 14 billion litres per year to 28 billion litres a year.

When is this happening?

Expanding the scheme started in late 2017, when we started building the new Advanced Water Recycling Plant. We expect the plant will be complete in 2019. In 2018 we drilled the recharge and monitoring bores and in 2019 we will build tanks and other infrastructure at the recharge sites in Wanneroo and Neerabup.

We started building the pipeline in Woodvale in 2018. The pipeline is expected to be finished in mid-2019.

How will this impact the community?

Construction work can have local impacts, including noise, dust, traffic management and vibration. Before we start work in an area we notify the surrounding community.

Read more about current work underway on the scheme expansion:

Notification - detours in place - Wanneroo (Scenic Drive)  June 2019

Notification - Closure of footpath and bike path - north of Donnelly Park, Wanneroo. Detours in place

Recharge pipeline

A 13km recharge pipeline will transfer the highly treated, drinking quality recycled water from the Advanced Water Recycling Plant in Craigie to the offsite recharge bores.

The pipeline is being constructed in sections using different construction techniques. The first two sections of pipeline, installed using trenchless technology (horizontal direction drilling), was completed in the second half of 2018 and were located beneath banksia woodlands in Wanneroo and Perry’s Paddock, Beenyup Swamp and Studmaster Park in Woodvale and Wanneroo. This construction technique was selected to reduce the impact on these environmentally-sensitive areas.

The remaining sections of pipeline are being installed through Neerabup and Woodvale using open trench construction techniques, beneath the Mitchell Freeway to the Advanced Water Recycling Plant using trenchless technology (micro-tunnelling). These sections are expected to be completed by early 2019.

Future sections of the pipeline include crossing beneath Joondalup Drive, which will be managed by Main Roads WA as part of its Joondalup Drive and Wanneroo Road intersection upgrade work.

Contact us

Please email groundwater.replenishment@watercorporation.com.au or call (08) 9420 3488 if you would like more information about the project.

Why is this work taking place?

As Perth continues to experience the impacts of climate change, the decision was made in July 2016 to expand our Groundwater Replenishment Scheme.
This will provide better certainty for Perth's water supplies, seeing the Scheme's capacity increase from 14 billion litres per year to 28 billion litres a year.
We worked closely with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to identify locations suitable to recharge this recycled water, with the final sites selected at the pine plantation in Wanneroo and at a site further north in Neerabup.

How were the recharge sites selected?

The recharge sites were located in consultation with the Department of Water and Environment Regulation following studies undertaken by the Department.

How was the pipeline route selected?

As the pipeline is being constructed to transfer water from the Advanced Water Recycling Plant in Craigie to the two offsite recharge sites in Wanneroo and Neerabup, its ideal route is along the eastern side of Lake Joondalup. The final pipeline route was selected in consultation with other government departments, taking into account impacts to the community and the environment, safety, constructability and cost.

What work is involved at the recharge bore sites?

Two recharge bores and two monitoring bores have been constructed and tested at each recharge site. The work included site preparation and geotechnical surveys, drilling and casing to depths of up to 1400 metres. Installation of the aboveground bore infrastructure will include a recharge pump building, a switch room building, a balance tank, a high voltage metering unit, switchgear and transformers, and an emergency overflow sump.

What work is involved for the recharge pipeline?

The majority of the pipeline is being constructed using open trenching techniques, which involves excavating a trench and laying lengths of pipe up to 2m below the surface, backfilling the excavation and then reinstating the surface including roads and parklands.

How will the work impact the community?

Construction work can have local noise impacts. Before beginning work, we establish baseline noise levels in the area and continue to monitor noise levels during the work to check that the noise generated from the works are within allowable limits. We also mitigate noise impacts with the use of noise blankets and barriers were possible.

When working at night we aim to position any lights away from neighbouring properties. As there will be increased traffic in the area from the work, we also put in place traffic management to ensure vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can move around the work areas safely.

We will generally maintain access to nearby properties. If there are minor access delays, we will notify you beforehand.

How is this work being communicated to local residents?

We notify the local community about upcoming work via letters or notifications in the letterbox and public notices in the local newspaper. We also keep the project website up-to-date and provide contact details so members of the community can request more information from us.


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