A remote West Australian town is set to host one of the state’s first regional seawater desalination plants, as thousands of visitors, a growing US military presence and a warming climate increase pressure on local supplies.<\/p>\n
It follows a lengthy investigation by the state’s Water Corporation of the near-exhausted drinking water source in Exmouth, 1,230 kilometres north of Perth.<\/p>\n
About 3,000 residents are currently supplied with water by 34 production bores that are dependent on heavy rainfall to recharge local aquifers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Exmouth’s groundwater reserves are often close to capacity, according to the Water Corporation. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)<\/p>\n
The state-run utility forecasts Exmouth will need an additional 1.5 billion litres each year by 2060, while climate modelling shows the region is likely to grow drier.<\/p>\n
The plan has been welcomed by local government and industry groups, who are calling for a quicker turnaround to support the town’s growth.<\/p>\n
At capacity<\/p>\n
The Water Corporation expects to complete the desalination plant in stages by 2030, pending environmental approval.<\/p>\n
It found additional groundwater sources south of Exmouth were insufficient to meet long-term demand and put cultural sites in the Cape Range National Park at risk.<\/p>\n
“That’s why desalination is the right choice,” said Evan Hambleton, general manager of assets, planning and delivery.<\/p>\n
“It’s a secure, climate-independent source that can be scaled over time and helps reduce reliance on groundwater supplies.”<\/p>\n
Seasonal influxes of tourists see Exmouth’s population swell. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)<\/p>\n
Exmouth’s population more than doubles during the peak winter months, with an average of 150,000 tourists passing through the town annually.<\/p>\n
Shire President Matthew Niikkula said the seasonal influx meant Exmouth’s drinking water scheme was often operating close to capacity.<\/p>\n
“We’re seeing numbers come through Exmouth like we’ve never seen before,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s put our infrastructure at critical bursting point for a long time.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Matthew Niikkula says Exmouth’s infrastructure is at “critical bursting point”. (ABC News: Glyn Jones)<\/p>\n
He argued that the Water Corporation should commit to a shorter time frame to deliver the project.<\/p>\n
“It is an urgent need. [The] council has been heavily advocating to government that this needs to be a one to three-year solution, not a three to five-year solution,” Cr Niikkula said.<\/p>\n
“Exmouth really is at a precipice.”<\/p>\n
A seawater desalination plant is hoped to support Exmouth’s rapid growth. (ABC News: Alistair Bates)<\/p>\n
Future-proofing<\/p>\n
While the technology has played a critical role in securing Perth’s water supply<\/a>, large-scale seawater desalination is a relatively new concept in regional WA.<\/p>\n The process has been used on a smaller scale to secure farm water supplies<\/a> and restore salt-damaged land.<\/p>\n But a large-scale plant proposed for Albany<\/a> prompted public outcry and was scrapped earlier this year.<\/p>\n Another plant is under construction in Onslow, four hours north of Exmouth.<\/p>\n Steve Riley says the seawater desalination plant will help the town expand. (ABC News: Alistair Bates)<\/p>\n Exmouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steve Riley welcomed the decision, which he believed primed Exmouth for expansion and sewage upgrades.<\/p>\n “There’s no housing up and down the whole coastline,” he said.<\/p>\n “We literally can’t build any more houses because we’re out of water.<\/p>\n “This [desalination plant] opens up that freedom a little bit to take those steps.”<\/p>\n Cr Niikkula said the desalination plant was part of a suite of technologies being rolled out in Exmouth to secure its future.<\/p>\n The WA electricity utility Horizon Power expects to complete three-quarters of a 9.6-megawatt solar farm by mid-August.<\/p>\n It aims to supply up to 80 per cent of Exmouth’s electricity by next year.<\/p>\n Environmental fears<\/p>\n The burgeoning infrastructure will support a greater military presence in Exmouth, with the United States flagging its interest<\/a> in the RAAF’s nearby Learmonth base.<\/p>\n The town’s secretive Harold E Holt naval communication base, jointly run by Australian and US forces, began its first major upgrade since 1967 in March.<\/p>\n Cr Niikkula, who also chairs the North-West Defence Alliance lobby group, said water shortages in Exmouth directly threatened national security.<\/p>\n “We just all need to make sure that we’re working together to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to be able to handle whatever comes along,” he said.<\/p>\n A secure water future could also accommodate the area’s growing military presence. (ABC News: Alistair Bates)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n