Published on Monday, 24 August 2026 at 1:10:48 PM
In 2022, the City successfully completed Stage 1 of the Dunsborough Non-Potable Water Network with funding support from the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program. This critical project resulted in the City having a reduced reliance on scheme water for the maintenance of green spaces in Dunsborough.
In 2024, additional State Government funding was secured to extend the network from Dunsborough Lakes to the Dunsborough Playing Fields, and this work was completed during 2025.
This month, the City successfully secured $22,050 from the Community Water Supplies Partnerships Program to develop ‘construction ready’ plans to enable the City to expand and extend this critical network even further.
Mayor Phill Cronin said: “With Dunsborough’s population forecast to increase into the future and the increasing need to ensure water security in the face of a changing climate, the City needs to source more non-potable water to mitigate against future supply shortages for the watering of green spaces, public open spaces and sporting ovals. Additional bores are going to be needed to ensure enough non-potable water can be pumped through the network to other areas of Dunsborough, further reducing the need to rely on scheme water.”
“Stage 1 of the Dunsborough Non-Potable Water Network included installation of a bore and associated irrigation infrastructure to supply water to the Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Precinct and other Dunsborough Lakes open spaces. It also enabled the City to prepare foundations for a future expansion into Dunsborough town centre, Dunsborough foreshore and other nearby urban growth areas. The City is now moving forward with plans to progress extensions to this network.”
The City will commence the work to develop plans for extensions to the network in the 2026-2027 financial year. Further funding will be sought following that to enable implementation of network infrastructure in line with these plans.
The Community Water Supplies Partnerships Program is funded through the National Water Grid Connections Fund and the Western Australian Government through Royalties for Regions.
To find out more about the Dunsborough Non-Potable Water Network and other initiatives the City is undertaking, please visit the City’s website at www.busselton.wa.gov.au
Objectives outlined in this statement are aligned with the City of Busselton’s Council Plan (2024 - 2034) Key Theme Environment – An environment that is valued, conserved and able to be enjoyed by current and future generations.
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