$450k price tag expected for new Yarragadee Aquifer bore to keep Leschenault Recreation Park green

The six decade old bore keeping a major South West sporting ground green needs an urgent replacement to avoid “catastrophic failure,” with the price tag set to be almost half a million dollars. Inspections of the 1961-drilled Paris Road bore — used to water two ovals at the Leschenault Recreation Park — in October revealed its steel casting was in poor condition, with some sections “completely eroded” and irreparable. Shire of Harvey officers warned councillors the 215m-deep bore on the banks of the Brunswick River in Australind was at risk of “catastrophic failure” after the contractor undertaking the inspection said it should be replaced in the next two years. At the Shire’s February 28 meeting, councillors voted to list $450,000 for consideration in the next financial year’s draft budget for a replacement bore. The Paris Road Yarragadee aquifer bore was drilled in 1961 by La Porte Industries for use with its mining operations, with the company gifting the bore and infrastructure to the Shire after it was no longer required. The bore is used predominantly to water ovals 1 and 2 at the Leschenault Recreation Park, located on the western side of Leschenault Leisure Centre. A camera inspection was completed along the length of the bore in October and determined the steel casting was in poor condition, with some parts completely eroded. The contractor determined the bore was in “poor condition”, was unable to be repaired and should be placed within two years. The new bore is proposed to be less than 800m from the current one, on the south-western side of the park’s tennis courts. It is expected the new bore would have to be drilled to a depth of 305m to access the Yarragadee aquifer and the drilling alone could cost about $350,000. To prevent corrosion problems in the future, the bore casting is set to be manufactured out of fibreglass-reinforced plastic rather than steel. Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett said the cost was “stock standard” and the council’s recent replacement of the Galway Green bore was likely about a similar price. The Yarragadee Aquifer is a vital fresh groundwater source in the region and is used as the drinking water source for most of the Bunbury urban area. However, Australind’s primary drinking water source is the Leederville Aquifer, with the Yarragadee only being tapped by the Water Corporation during periods of high demand. The Shire of Harvey is allowed to draw the water from the Yarragadee under licence from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. It is not the only local council to draw from the aquifer, with the City of Bunbury also licensed to do the same. Cr Gillett expressed his hope recycled water would eventually be able to replace the need for groundwater to water green spaces. “I expect DWER will monitor (the new bore) and be very stringent in their conditions,” he said. The budget for the new bore will be finalised once the Shire’s 2023-24 budget is formally adopted later this year.