News

South West Irrigation Management Cooperative (SWIMCO), trading as Harvey Water, seeks a suitably qualified person from the Harvey Irrigation District to fill a casual vacancy on the Board of Directors.
 
The role will remain a casual position until the next AGM at which time the Members may elect to endorse the candidate for a one year term.
 
Prerequisites of the role include:

• To be eligible you must be an active Member in accordance with the Cooperatives Rules;
• You must possess the skills and expertise necessary to adequately represent the Members interests in the Harvey area;
• Sufficient business acumen and other skills necessary to contribute to the strategic direction of Harvey Water;
• Adequate time to fulfill your duties as a Director.

 
A resume outlining your skills and experience should be provided to the Company Secretary by 4pm, 13 March, 2019. Via:
 
Email:             admin@harveywater.com.au
or
Posted to:       Company Secretary
                             Harvey Water
                             PO Box 456
                             Harvey WA 6220.
 
For more information on this position, please contact the Company Secretary, Bradd Hamersley, on (08) 9729-0100. 

Harvey Water is inviting the community to apply for its next sponsorship round, which offers two levels of funding for local projects and events.

Funding of $500 and under is aimed at schools and education based projects, voluntary organisations which encourage community involvement, sporting clubs, sporting projects and environment and catchment care.

The larger funding of $2000 and under is aimed at community events which create economic benefit, sustainable environment initiatives and community infrastructure projects.

The sponsorship is open to communities in Harvey, Waroona, Dardanup, Bunbury and Collie and closes on April 1st. A second round will be held in September 2019.

Eligible organisations are:

• Not for profit organisations
• Incorporated community organisations
• Not for profit educational institutions

“Harvey Water has a long history of supporting the local communities in which it operates and is very proud of the projects it has been able to assist with over the years,” said General Manager Bradd Hamersley.
“We once again look forward to assisting those groups which need help to deliver projects which make a difference in our communities.”

​Harvey Water is seeking to commission a local Artist to make an outdoor sculptural Artwork to be placed in a prominent location near the main entrance of our new administration premises in Harvey.
 
The artwork would be in the form of an outdoor sculpture and Artists are encouraged to incorporate the iconic Dethridge Wheel, which is synonymous with the origins of the Harvey Irrigation District.
The commission is open to Artists residing in Bunbury Geographe and the Irrigation District which covers the Shires of Harvey, Waroona, Dardanup, Collie, Capel, Donnybrook-Balingup and Bunbury.
We are seeking an inspired, landmark design that really encapsulates the Harvey Water irrigation district and the important heritage of the land.
 
Three shortlisted artists will be selected based on their experience and past work. These Artists will receive $500 each for design development and the successful Artist will receive an $8000 commission fee.
Harvey Water is excited to be working with local artists on this project and displaying the sculpture at our new building when it is completed in July.

​After more than 20 years of outstanding service, community stalwart Ian Eckersley has resigned from the position of Director and Chair of Harvey Water.
 
Since privatisation in 1996 when the fledgling South West Irrigation (which became Harvey Water) was formed, Ian was a founding Director and Chair of the South West Irrigation Asset Cooperative Board.  Ian later took on the role of Chair of the Management Cooperative following on from Dan Norton in 2009.
 
Coming from a background in dairy, citrus and grape growing, Ian has always provided strong representation for farmers and irrigation, applying his extensive knowledge of the district and agriculture and a growing expertise in the Cooperative structure. 
 
In more recent years, Ian has led growth of the business and a measured diversification to maximise water affordability for our 720 irrigator Cooperative Members, while continuing to be a strong advocate at local, State and Federal levels for the interests of Members.
 
Deputy Chair, Sam Epiro, will take on the role of acting Chair of the SWIMCO, supported by SWIAC Chair Kevin Warburton.  
 
We wish Ian the very best in his future endeavors. 

​Harvey Water recently completed an extension of its backbone water supply infrastructure into Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area to service global lithium producer Albemarle. 
Albemarle plans to utilise water supplied by Harvey Water during construction and in their lithium hydroxide production plant.
The pipeline also provides a number of firefighting supply points for the community in and around Kemerton – an important asset in the event of a bush fire.
Bradd Hamersley, General Manager Harvey Water, said “Harvey Water is an example of the many local suppliers and contractors that will benefit from the construction and operational phases of Albemarle’s operation”. 
This project broadens Harvey Water’s customer base for the benefit of cooperative Members.  Mr Hamersley said “We continue to work with our Members and other customers towards effective and efficient use of our precious natural resources”.
Mr Hamersley acknowledged the foresight demonstrated by Albemarle in considering the community in the pre approvals phase of the project.

The Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) held a one-day South West WA Regional Economic Update conference in Bunbury on 2nd November.  Agriculture was one of the industry sectors highlighted, with presenters Tony Girgis, MD/CEO Brownes Foods, providing a snapshot of the WA dairying industry, and Ian Telfer, CEO WAPRES, discussing challenges in the timber and timber products sector.  ​Harvey Water GM Bradd Hamersley gave an update of the Myalup Wellington Project to a Perth and regional audience of 180 people.  Bradd provided a summary of project components and participants, and the projected socio-economic benefits of the project.  This large investment by State and Federal Governments has been welcomed by the business community.

​South West landholders and community groups are being encouraged to apply for round 2 of Smart Farms Small Grants.
These grants support new projects to improve Aussie soil, biodiversity and vegetation.  They will also help support water security and promote climate-smart farming. 
Forrest MHR Nola Marino said Landcare groups, National Resource Management bodies, Indigenous organisations and community groups in the South West could apply for grants of between $5000 and $200,000.
Visit www.agriculture.gov.au to apply.

​With summer holidays approaching, Harvey Water is urging all members of the community and visitors to the region to be as vigilant around channels and farm dams as they would be around major roads and highways.
Harvey Water’s channel infrastructure, like major roads and highways, are vital delivery routes designed to provide water as efficiently as possible. They are not safe locations to play or swim.
"We don't allow our children, pets or livestock out onto a busy road in an uncontrolled fashion - we need to take the same attitude to our farm dams and channels," warned Mr Hamersley.
"The reality these channels can be dangerous.  Many dangers lurk beneath the surface and water levels can change rapidly. Pipes, siphons, rocks and debris can be hidden below the surface and can injure people, pets and livestock. Irrigation channels are the backbone of our agricultural industry, not a playground”.
Harvey Water is encouraging members of the community to swim at appropriate locations and to adopt safe swimming practices this summer.

​Pictured are Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud, Nola Marino Member for Forrest, and Harvey Water representatives Bradd Hamersley, Ian Eckersley and Kevin Warburton.  The group met on Tuesday to discuss the benefits of the Myalup-Wellington project.
Earlier this year Mrs Marino secured $140m in Federal funding as well as a $50m concessional loan to assist with the Myalup-Wellington Dam project.
Mrs Marino said the project would benefit both the agriculture and forestry industries in the region.
“This project will divert high-saline inflows upstream from the Wellington Dam for desalination, improving the quality of water stored in and released from the dam for agriculture and various uses,” Mrs Marino said.

Friday, 12 October 2018

Irrigated agriculture production in the Collie River, Harvey and Waroona districts in south-west Western Australia is set to expand thanks to a transformational water infrastructure initiative. 

Led by Collie Water, the $396 million project aims to reduce salinity in the Wellington Dam, WA's second largest reservoir. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of The Nationals and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian Government is committed to constructing the water infrastructure of 21st century. 

"The Myalup-Wellington project is a significant economic development project which offers an innovative, long-term solution to the salinity problems in the Wellington Dam," Mr McCormack said. 

"The Project is expected to increase supply of potable water into the Harris Dam by 10 gigalitres per year. It'll boost WA's gross state product by more than $570 million each year and support up to 830 jobs throughout the construction and operation phases."  

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the Liberal and Nationals Government is committing $190 million to the project. 

"Saline water will be pumped from the Collie River East Branch to reduce salt flows into the Wellington Dam. A private desalination facility will be built near Collie to produce potable water to be delivered to the Harris Dam," Mr Littleproud said. 

"The Burekup Weir will be improved to provide increased head pressure, while existing open irrigation channels below the weir will be replaced with a closed pipe network to extend pressurised water supply and increase the area under irrigation.

"The project is also working to deliver new irrigation water to Myalup to support expansion of the region's existing highly productive irrigated agricultural industry."

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said access to fit-for-purpose water is vital for the region's agricultural growth. 

"The Myalup-Wellington Project will help secure the future of the region in a drying climate, creating opportunities for expanded horticulture and agriculture," Ms MacTiernan said.

"This is a long-term project - staged over the next five to seven years.

"Work is underway to increase the area of timber plantations in the upper Wellington Dam catchment to assist in the management of catchment salinity.

"Collie Water is progressing design plans and has commenced its tender process for the construction of the desalination plant."

WA Water Minister Dave Kelly said the environmental benefits of the project are significant. 

"This project will enable great utilisation of the significant water resource in the Wellington Dam," Mr Kelly said. 

"It will also deliver greater certainty in water supplies for those in the region."

The project is jointly funded with the Australian Government investing $190 million, the Western Australian Government $37 million and Collie Water and private investors $169 million.

​For further information contact Bradd Hamersley on (08) 9729 0100.