SEMINAR: Potential research opportunities associated with the Myalup-Wellington project and conversion of the Myalup pines to irrigated agriculture

Abstract: The recently announced $400m Myalup-Wellington project in South West WA is a private-public partnership project between the Collie catchment in the east and the Myalup and Collie irrigation districts in the west. Collie Water was formed to implement and operate the project. It has a close relationship with Harvey Water, the primary water service provider from Wellington Dam. The project links with the movement of pines from Myalup to the Collie Catchment and the creation of new irrigation areas.

Richard will outline the steps involving headwater diversion of saline inflows to a desalinisation plant, thereby lowering Wellington Dam salinity, while creating over 10 GL/y of fresh water for Water Corporation to deliver to Great Southern towns. Lowering Wellington salinity provides the opportunity to improve crop and pasture yields and recover saline land in the Collie River Irrigation District. A mix of local and fresh Wellington water will be used to augment groundwater supplies in the Myalup Irrigation Area, including storing water over winter in the Superficial Aquifer.

The project has a number of potential research issues; the recovery of saline irrigated land, managed aquifer recharge, reviving wetlands affected by low watertables and salinity, environmental flows in drains, optimising new irrigation areas after a combination of pine removal and sand mining.