Western Australia Member Regional Update | August 2025 New

Date: 20-Aug-2025

Welcome to the latest Western Australia Member Regional Update, where you’ll find the latest updates, events, and insights shaping the irrigation industry across the region. The aim of each edition is to provide you with valuable regional news and the opportunity to stay connected with our vibrant community.

We're pleased to welcome the following members who have joined in the past three months:

Smithtek Pty Ltd
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Frenchams Landscaping Services
Trident Water
Mr Garron. D
Dr Fatemeh. K
Mr Chris. K
Mr Mark. V
Mr Clinton. W
Mr Jamie. G

We look forward to working with you to advance irrigation excellence across Australia.

2025 Waterwise Irrigation Expo – Thank you for an incredible day!

The 2025 Waterwise Irrigation Expo, held on Wednesday 13 August at The Vines Resort, was our biggest and most vibrant yet – and it’s all thanks to you!

With a record-breaking number of registered delegates and an enthusiastic, engaged crowd, the day was filled with innovation, inspiration, and connection. Your energy, curiosity, and passion for water-efficient solutions are what make this event a highlight of our industry calendar year after year.

Feedback has been rolling in, and so far, it’s been overwhelmingly positive - this year’s Expo was a hit! The Mini Golf Challenge had everyone talking, with competitive spirit (and plenty of laughs) on display, while the TIACS mental health presentation was widely praised as one of the day’s most powerful and thought-provoking sessions.

One exhibitor summed it up perfectly:

“On behalf of Franklin Electric, Luke and I would like to thank Irrigation Australia for hosting such a well-run and engaging Waterwise Irrigation Expo. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry peers, catch up with familiar faces, and meet potential new customers. We truly value the platform the event provides to showcase our products and solutions, and to contribute to conversations around sustainable and efficient water management. We appreciate all the hard work that went into organising the day especially by you Bec, and look forward to supporting future events.” - Stephen Jennings, Franklin Electric

This year’s Expo brought together leading experts, suppliers, and practitioners to share knowledge, showcase innovation, and inspire change. Here’s what we explored together:

27 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge irrigation solutions
Project spotlights on major irrigation upgrades from Rain Bird, Living Turf, and Western Irrigation
An innovation showcase with the latest smart tech from Hunter Industries
Demo of the new Ammonite learning platform, updates on course development and delivery, a preview of future training priorities, and an open feedback session to shape future training
An inspiring mental health session from TIACS
Waterwise Panel discussions on WA’s sustainable future
Mini Golf Challenge fun – with prizes for both the best and worst performances!

We thank every delegate, exhibitor, presenter, and sponsor for making the 2025 Waterwise Irrigation Expo a resounding success. If you missed it, or just want to look back on the day, you can now access the photos from the event here. We can’t wait to see you at the next one!

Celebrating the 2025 Waterwise Award Winners

This year’s awards recognised outstanding achievements in water efficiency, innovation, and service to the irrigation industry.

Water Efficiency Individual Award - Mladen Thomas, City of Cockburn

Mladen has been a driving force in groundwater efficiency, maintaining usage at just 87% of the City’s groundwater allocation in 2023-24 through data-driven, adaptive irrigation practices.

Water Efficiency Small Business Award - Alex Hall, Premier Turf Care

Led by Alex Hall, Premier Turf Care delivers projects that meet best-practice irrigation standards and align with Irrigation Australia’s Waterwise principles. By integrating smart systems, efficient design, and tailored solutions, they make sustainable practices both effective and accessible.

Water Efficiency Large Business Award - City of Gosnells

The City of Gosnells masterplan for a 29Ha sporting complex includes subsoil drainage, a new infield irrigation system, iron filtration, wetting agent dosing, and a weather station linked to a central controller. As a Gold Waterwise Council, the City is setting new benchmarks for irrigation efficiency and community engagement.

Irrigation Innovation Award - Agroglide

Agroglide has developed an affordable two-wire solution for residential and semi-commercial markets. Featuring NFC-enabled programming and multi-function automation, it delivers simplified installation, low maintenance, and smart, sensor-driven irrigation management.

Distinguished Service Awards

These awards are nominated either by regional committees or Irrigation Australia, recognising volunteers who’ve made a significant contribution to our Association and the industry more broadly.

Dave Furlong

Owner of Country Water Solutions, Dave has spent over 26 years building businesses, mentoring future irrigation professionals, and contributing generously to his community and the industry.

Paul Willmott

After an extensive career across the sector, Paul retires this month. Known for his passion, technical expertise, and dedication to training, Paul has inspired countless students and colleagues throughout his career.

Registrations are open for the 2025 Western Australian Horticulture Update!

The Western Australian Horticulture Update (WAHU) returns on Wednesday, 22 October at Mandoon Estate, Swan Valley, bringing together growers, researchers, industry leaders, and government stakeholders to shape a more sustainable and resilient horticulture future.

This year’s theme will explore:

Advancing sustainability and food system resilience
Strengthening WA’s market position through innovation and collaboration

This one-day event is designed to spark meaningful conversations and foster powerful collaborations across WA's horticulture sector. Attendees will gain insights from leading voices in the industry through expert presentations, panel discussions, and real-world case studies. The program will highlight groundbreaking research and celebrate Western Australia’s world-class produce.

Tickets are available now - register here to secure your spot!

Exhibitor enquiries: Contact Jennifer Birkhead at jennifer.birkhead@dpird.wa.gov.au or (08) 9777 0120.

Upcoming training opportunities

Ready to enhance your skills or work towards obtaining a certification? Here’s what’s coming up in Western Australia over the next few months:

If the timing isn’t right for you for any of the above but you are interested in a particular course, please contact training@irrigation.org.au. Click here to find out more about funding options in Western Australia and to see if you are eligible.

Food Fibre & Timber Industries - Submission for Apprenticeship

A submission has been lodged with the State Training Board to transition the Irrigation Technician Traineeship into an Apprenticeship. The approval process in expected to take several months, and we will keep members updated as developments occur. Irrigation Australia extends its thanks to everyone who contributed to this important project.

New Chair for Warren Donnelly Water Advisory Committee

Donelle Buegge, President of the Shire of Manjimup and a committee member since 2020, has been appointed Chair of the Warren Donnelly Water Advisory Committee.

Established in 1963, the committee advises the Water Minister and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation on sustainable surface water management in the Warren and Donnelly River catchments.

Mark Batty joins as the new Southern Forest Community Landcare representative, with a new Shire of Manjimup representative to be appointed.

Read the full media release here.

Water made in WA to support growing population

Works are underway on WA’s $2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant, which will provide a sustainable water supply for the State’s growing population.

Two large tunnel boring machines will build pipelines beneath the seabed, minimising environmental impact. Stage one will deliver 50 billion litres of drinking water to over 2.5 million people, support local industry, create 1,500+ jobs, and inject $1.1 billion into the WA economy.

Read the full media release here.

Celebrating 30 years of waterwise learning in WA schools

Water Corporation’s Waterwise Schools program is marking 30 years of teaching Western Australian students about the value of water and conservation, reaching over 431,000 students since it began at Hillarys Primary School in 1995.

One of WA’s longest-running education initiatives, it now delivers interactive incursions, digital tools, and curriculum-linked resources from pre-primary to year 10, with a focus on STEM, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, and sustainability.

As climate change impacts water supplies, the program aims to engage 50,000 students annually by 2030 to foster lifelong waterwise habits.

Read the full media release here.

$480,000 funding boost for seven regional water projects

Seven regional local governments will share over $480,000 in the latest round of the Community Water Supplies Partnership (CWSP) program, jointly funded by the Australian and WA governments.

The program supports projects that boost water resilience, reduce reliance on scheme water, and enhance firefighting and irrigation capacity. This round funds initiatives in Albany, Carnarvon, Kondinin, Menzies, Perenjori, and Plantagenet, including tanks, pumps, pipelines, bores, and dam upgrades.

A total of $5.6 million has been committed to the program from 2024-25 to 2026-27 to help regional communities adapt to changing rainfall patterns.

Read the full media release here.

Click here to view upcoming Training Courses.

Click here to view the latest Career Opportunities available within the Irrigation Industry.

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