Our role
The South West Region consists of three offices and covers an area of approximately 38,000 square kilometres. There are 80 staff working across the region to facilitate sustainable management of the regions water resources.
The South West Region delivers on all businesses of the Department of Water:
- manage water use and protect quality;
- waterways and catchment management;
- corporate support;
- water information;
- communications; and
- land-use planning and development advice.
Bunbury
The Bunbury office supports the region with administration and strategic management. Programs for the Region, delivered out of the Bunbury office include:
- water allocation licensing and management;
- drinking water source and catchment water quality protection (including clearing controls);
- involvement in natural resource management activities associated with supporting rural and urban development;
- salinity management;
- land-use planning advice;
- environmental water provision management;
- operation of the hydrometric network collecting information on surface water, groundwater, and meteorological information;
- flood warning and response;
- agency land management;
- implementing the Region's estuarine monitoring program; and
- supporting the South West NRM region community with technical advice on waterway management.
The Leschenault Catchment Council (LCC) operates from the Bunbury office and works in partnership with the Department of Water to:
- support community conservation groups involved in natural resource management, provide training, resources, advice and information;
- deliver on grounds projects; and
- support the South West Catchments Council.
Geographe Capes District Office
The Geographe Capes office is located in Busselton. This office provides the following services to the Geographe and Cape to Cape districts:
- supports community groups on waterway and catchment issues;
- water allocation licensing and management;
- pollution incident and complaint response; and
- supports the Whicher Water Resource Management Committee.
The Geographe Catchment Council (Geocatch) Program operates from the Geographe Capes office and supports the region through:
- supporting community conservation groups involved in natural resource management, providing training, resources, advice and information; and
- supporting the South West Catchments Council's.
Warren Blackwood District Office
The Warren Blackwood office is located in Manjimup and provides the following services to the Warren Blackwood district (note that due to limited staff numbers the office is not always open during normal business hours):
- supports community groups on waterway and catchment issues;
- water allocation licensing and management;
- salinity management advice; and
- agency land management.
Key contacts
South West Regional Office
The Department of Water
35-39 McCombe Road
BUNBURY WA 6230
Postal Address:
PO Box 261
BUNBURY WA 6231
Ph: (08) 9726 4111
Fax: (08) 9726 4100