Desal boost

KOOWEERUP and Lang Lang Recreation Reserves will be upgraded by a Desalination Plant contractor in exchange for allowing workers to park at the grounds.
The Kooweerup Recreation Reserve Committee this week agreed to allow employees of pipeline contractor, Thiess Degremont Nacap, to park at the grounds.
Buses will then ferry the workers to the pipeline.
In return, the company will build a new crushed rock access road next to the netball courts and lay bitumen around the buildings.
Jason Spears, project director for Thiess Degremont Nacap, said a similar agreement was made with Lang Lang Showgrounds.
Lang Lang will get an upgrade of its main entry, internal roads and car park.
“We’re working to minimise traffic and parking impacts on local towns while the pipeline is being built,” he said.
“The Kooweerup Recreation Reserve is used year round by local cricket, football, netball, dog obedience and horse riding clubs. We’re pleased to be able to lend a hand with some improvements.”
The agreement won’t impact on sporting fixtures and other activities scheduled at the reserve.
Ray Brown, secretary of the Kooweerup Recreation Reserve Committee, said the upgrades were a bonus for the community.
“We were not anticipating being able to undertake this work ourselves, so it’s great to have the reserve upgraded through this agreement,” he said.
“It means access and parking will be improved, which is particularly important from a safety point of view given that so many families come to the reserve to take part in a whole range of activities.”
The Victorian Desalination Plant includes the construction of an 84-kilometre pipeline to connect the plant to Melbourne and regional water networks.
Work crews have been installing temporary fencing, building access roads and delivering pipes to pipeline easement in preparation for pipe laying, which began in Clyde last month.