Onslow to become home to regional WA’s first public drinking water desalination plant

Onslow will be the site of regional WA’s first desalination plant in a $94 million project scheduled to be completed in 2026. The plant will be located on the coastal side of Beadon Creek Road and will have the capacity to supply 1.5 million litres of drinking water every day and will be built to meet future demand which is expected to double by 2045. The plant will stop the Pilbara community dependence on the Cane River bore field which relies on heavy rainfall and cyclonic events for recharge. More than $68 million has been provided by the Chevron-operated Wheatstone project under a longstanding State Development Agreement requiring the company to fund projects that deliver lasting community benefits in Onslow and across the Pilbara. The contract to design and construct the desalination plant was awarded to Guidera O’Connor late last year, while the 2.5km pipeline connecting the plant to storage tanks along Onslow Road will be delivered by north-west Aboriginal business Kimberley Civil and Drainage. It is expected more than 300 jobs will be created during construction of the plant and more than 10 per cent of the contract value will be directed to local businesses. Water Minister Simone McGurk said the plant would support the community both economically and socially for many years to come. “Importantly, it will reduce Onslow’s dependence on groundwater alone, providing a climate independent source to supplement the town’s supply,” she said. Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Peter Foster said it was pleasing to see the close collaboration between Water Corporation, Chevron, the Shire of Ashburton, traditional owners and the community in getting the project shovel-ready. “I look forward to seeing the project progress and to the opportunities it will bring to local contractors and suppliers during construction,” he said. Chevron Australia managing director Mark Hatfield said the company was proud to play a part in bringing water security and long-term benefits to Onslow. “Contributing to social and critical infrastructure in the communities in which we operate ensures the town and the region continue to thrive and makes a positive difference for the people of Onslow,” he said. Premier Roger Cook said water security was fundamental to economic development. “This financial year, we’re investing $1.7 billion in Water Corporation projects to ensure Western Australians continue to have access to reliable water and wastewater services,” he said.