The electorate of Hillarys is now hosting a $320 million investment which fundamentally changes how Perth households retain our valuable drinking water.

The Water Corporation’s Groundwater Replenishment Scheme is a sustainable, rainfall-independent water source that uses purified recycled water to recharge underground aquifers.

It is housed at the Water Corporation’s Beenyup Water Resource Recovery Facility in Craigie, in the heart of the Hillarys electorate.

The completion of the Stage 2 expansion of the scheme was announced today by Water Minister Dave Kelly MLA and myself at the Craigie facility.

It was incredible to see the internationally leading infrastructure that will recycle 28 billion litres each year, which is enough water to supply up to 100,000 Perth households.

Water purified by the major facility is then pumped into Perth’s groundwater aquifers, where it replenishes our supplies before being pumped back into use.

The completion of the advanced water recycling facility is just one part of WA’s adaptation to the challenges of climate change.

Since 1980, reduced rainfall and increased groundwater abstraction have seen water tables fall by up to 10 metres - a 1,000GL loss of aquifer storage, equivalent to 1,000 Optus Stadiums full of water.

Construction of the facility created over 300 WA jobs.

I’d like to thank the Minister for Water for visiting our electorate and for his ongoing work to secure Perth’s water future.