--- title: WA Indigenous communities promised water service upgrades in COVID-19 recovery plan description: The Western Australian government has announced $38.9 million in funding to improve water service delivery in the state’s Aboriginal communities. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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Water Minister Dave Kelly said the funding was brought forward to improve infrastructure and provide employment opportunities as a part of the state government’s $5.5 billion [WA Recovery Plan](https://www.wa.gov.au/government/wa-recovery) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Critical to the success of this program is early engagement and a partnership approach with Aboriginal communities to deliver the infrastructure upgrades,” Kelly [said](https://www.watercorporation.com.au/About-us/Media-releases/2020/August-2020/Aboriginal-communities-water-service-upgrades). "We look forward to working with these communities to deliver outcomes which support and enhance their way of life." There are some 274 remote Aboriginal communities in WA. A [2015 report](https://audit.wa.gov.au/reports-and-publications/reports/delivering-essential-services-remote-aboriginal-communities/communities-reliable-power-water-supply-water-quality-often-not-meet-australian-standards/) by the state’s auditor general found that, while these communities have reliable power and water supply, water quality often does not meet Australian standards, with four out of five communities receiving water delivered by a state-run program [testing positive](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/06/remote-indigenous-communities-in-western-australia-fail-water-safety-tests) for unsafe levels of E.coli or Naegleria. The upgrades will see the Water Corporation become the licensed water service provider for the remote communities of Ardyaloon, Djarindjin, Lombadina and Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula in the West Kimberley, with planning and investigations to also commence for other remote communities.  Water services will also be upgraded at several town-based communities throughout the state. The government said the program also aims to create jobs for local Aboriginal people and businesses, including sustainable traineeships and new employment opportunities to assist with essential service delivery, operations and maintenance once the project is delivered. [ Public Health ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/public-health) [ Rural and Remote Communities ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/rural-remote-communities) [ Water Treatment ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-treatment) [ Western Australia (WA) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/western-australia) [ Water Corporation ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-corporation) [ Water Quality ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-quality) [ Utilities ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/utilities) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=WA%20Indigenous%20communities%20promised%20water%20service%20upgrades%20in%20COVID-19%20recovery%20plan&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/wa-indigenous-communities-promised-water-service-upgrades-covid-19-recovery-plan) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/wa-indigenous-communities-promised-water-service-upgrades-covid-19-recovery-plan) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/wa-indigenous-communities-promised-water-service-upgrades-covid-19-recovery-plan) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/wa-indigenous-communities-promised-water-service-upgrades-covid-19-recovery-plan) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Mowanjum%20WWTP.jpg?width=352&name=Mowanjum%20WWTP.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/first-licensed-wastewater-treatment-plant-in-wa-aboriginal-community-opens) ### [ First licensed wastewater treatment plant in WA Aboriginal community opens ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/first-licensed-wastewater-treatment-plant-in-wa-aboriginal-community-opens) Water Source Mowanjum in the Kimberley has become home to the first licensed wastewater treatment plant in an Aboriginal community in Western… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/first-licensed-wastewater-treatment-plant-in-wa-aboriginal-community-opens) ### [ WA pushes major water boost in remote communities ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/customers/wa-pushes-major-water-boost-in-remote-communities) Water Source Water services in ten remote Aboriginal communities will receive an historic upgrade under a West Australian government program. [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/customers/wa-pushes-major-water-boost-in-remote-communities) [![Dr Mara West, Professor Rhonda Marriott and Professor Roz Walker (credit: Murdoch University)](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%20Dr%20Mara%20West%2c%20Professor%20Rhonda%20Marriott%20and%20Professor%20Roz%20Walker.jpg?width=352&name=Image%20Dr%20Mara%20West%2c%20Professor%20Rhonda%20Marriott%20and%20Professor%20Roz%20Walker.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/homeland-communities-living-with-contaminated-water-continue-their-fight-for-change) ### [ Homeland communities living with contaminated water continue their fight for change ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/homeland-communities-living-with-contaminated-water-continue-their-fight-for-change) Murdoch University Nearly a quarter of remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia live with contaminated drinking water. 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