en.Wedoany.com Reported - A key milestone has been reached in the AUD 543 million upgrade of Western Australia's Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme (GAWSS), with the construction contract for the first phase of pipeline replacement officially signed. The contract involves replacing 44.5 kilometers of aging pipelines.

Perth-based Georgiou Group, along with a joint venture between SRG Global and McConnell Dowell, will undertake the pipeline replacement tasks. As the initial phase of the overall plan, this project will use locally manufactured pipe sections from Western Australia.

The first phase, executed by Water Corporation, includes pipeline refurbishment, valve upgrades, and the construction of a duplicate line at the Binduli Reservoir.

Upon completion of the upgrade, the scheme's daily water delivery capacity is expected to increase by up to 7.2 million liters, representing a 10% boost from current levels. This will alleviate water pressure for industrial and residential users and enhance regional water supply stability.

Over AUD 170 million from the entire project will flow to local Western Australian contractors and subcontractors, with at least AUD 7 million allocated to Indigenous businesses. Communities in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions will also benefit from AUD 12.4 million in local procurement spending.

The pipe sections are manufactured by Steel Mains in Kwinana, using iron ore from the Pilbara, with the pipe interiors lined with Cockburn Cement concrete. This production line supports over 230 jobs.

The duplicate line project at the Binduli Reservoir in Kalgoorlie-Boulder is expected to commence later this year, driving local employment and economic activity.

The Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme originates in Mundaring and extends to Kalgoorlie, supplying water to over 100,000 households, farms, mines, and businesses in the Goldfields and Wheatbelt regions.

Water Minister Don Punch noted that the contract award is a significant milestone in the project's progress.

"This investment will enhance the scheme's water delivery capacity and reliability to support future growth in the Goldfields and Wheatbelt regions, while creating jobs and business opportunities for local enterprises," Punch said.

Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent believes the upgrade will effectively address growing demand in the region.

"These upgrades will help ensure the scheme continues to serve the developing region and create more opportunities for local businesses and workers," Kent said.