Construction of one of the largest water pipelines ever built in Western Australia has reached its halfway mark, another step forward for the state government’s AU$2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant.
More than 17 kilometres of the 33.5km underground trunk main has now been laid. Once completed in 2027, the massive corridor will link the future desalination plant to Water Corporation’s Wanneroo Reservoir, integrating it into a network that supplies drinking water to more than 2.5 million people.
With an internal diameter of 1.6 metres, the pipeline is among the largest ever constructed in the state and has been engineered to support future expansions of the desalination facility.
The pipeline highlights the state government’s Made in WA manufacturing push. Fabricated locally by Steel Mains in Kwinana, the steel, cement-lined pipe sections are manufactured using Pilbara iron ore and Cockburn cement.
Crews have installed nearly 1,600 individual pipe sections ranging from six to 12 metres in length, with the largest segments weighing up to nine tonnes each.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said: “This pipeline is the perfect example of my government’s Made in WA plan.
“Not only will it be built with products and materials sourced from local businesses, it will also be a key part of our Alkimos desalination plant, which when built will support hundreds of jobs.”
The pipeline’s massive size also brings environmental advantages, as the wider diameter reduces the friction and energy required to pump water, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 21 per cent compared to narrower alternatives.
Water Minister Don Punch emphasised that the project is vital for climate resilience.
“This milestone marks the halfway point in delivering one of the largest water pipelines built in WA and is a critical step in securing our state’s water future,” Punch said.
“It is a critical part of the AU$2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant project that will strengthen the resilience of our water network as demand grows and our climate continues to change.”
The broader AU$2.8 billion Alkimos project supports over 1,500 jobs and will initially supply 50 billion litres of drinking water annually.
