We are developing a bore field on the northern side of the Gascoyne River, East of McGlades Road. Originally these bores were drilled by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA), as part of the Gascoyne Foodbowl Initiative. However in 2010 DAFWA handed the project over to GWAMCO, to be incorporated into it's existing infrastructure. In consultation with the Department of Water and a hydrgeologist, GWAMCO have equipped 9 bores, with an expected combined flow rate of 100+ litres per second, or 360 cubic meters per hour. This should go some way towards supplementing the water recieved from the Water Corporation's borefield south of the river.
We have been granted a 12 month test pumping licence by the Department of Water. During this period extensive testing will be carried out to determine the impact on groundwater levels and salinity, as well as any possible effect on the southern bore field. At the end of this period the Department of Water will review all data available, before granting a permanent pumping licence.
Recent flooding caused damage to roads, and the pipeline to be shifted around. However the bores themselves and their headworks were unharmed. We have carried out repairs, and have set up permanent gensets, with computerised monitoring equipment and SCADA. We will be in test pumping mode till October 2011, after which we plan to obtain a permanent licence.