Dunsborough School's Water Crisis: A Deep Dive

0:00It's April 10th. Welcome in. This is Sydney News today, where local news meets AI. Dunsboro Primary School, down in Western Australia, is facing massive water bills topping $135,000 a year. That's way more than $70,000 above what nearby schools pay, which hover around $30,000. This country school serves about 700 kids in a growing town 250 kilometers south of Perth. A route issue ties back to their local water supply, a single slow bore that covers less than a quarter of their needs for the oval and grounds. Without buying pricey or drinking quality water, the place would turn into a dust bowl. They've already added rainwater tanks, auto shutoff taps, and sensor-based watering to cut usage. School board chair Barr Black says even during a 42-day holiday shutdown from December to January, they got hit with a $21,000 bill. That cash drain pulls funds from student support programs, emotional help, staff training, and even basic building fixes.

1:02Local MP Libby Metham points out the school is water wise, but stuck with high water corporation charges and no better options. She pushes for a switch to local supplier busselton water or a non-portable supply to slash costs. The Cook government is on it now, investigating the gap and teaming up with the Department of Education and water corporation. They've already cut consumption and bills through efficiency tweaks, and more help is in the works that ease the pressure.