Desalination Project
Our oceans hold 97 per cent of the water on this planet. Because of changing climate, our growing population and drought, we need to use some of it to make sure we have water for the future.
When our desalination plant starts making drinking water from seawater at the end of 2011, we will have a guaranteed water supply even in years of drought.
It will be the largest desalination plant in Australia, supplying 150 billion litres of water a year to Melbourne, Geelong and some regional communities.
That’s enough fresh water for about one third of Melbourne’s household and industry needs, without relying on rain.
Our plant will be one of the greenest in the world by using:
- renewable energy to offset 100 per cent of operational power
- world-leading energy recovery devices to reduce power consumption, and
- a unique design with living green roof and new coastal park.
The project scope and benefits include:
- a rainfall independent source of water
- 150 billion litre per year plant
- expandable to 200 billion litres
- water delivered by the end of 2011
- flexible water supplies (annual ordering from 0 to 150 billion litres in set increments)
- highest quality desalinated water to match Melbourne’s world class standards
- world class architecture and landscaping
- Australia’s largest living green roof
- long tunnels for intake and outlet to protect the coast and beach – 200 billion litre capacity
- 84km two way water transfer pipeline – 200 billion litre capacity
- seven pipeline connection points for water delivery to Melbourne and some towns in South Gippsland and Western Port.
- 87km underground power supply – 200 billion litre capacity
- new communications cable
- 100 per cent offset of electricity by renewable energy
- $1 billion boost to Gross State Product
- of $1 billion in contracts awarded to date, ¾ Australian (⅔ Victorian).
The project will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the Victorian Government’s Partnerships Victoria Policy. The AquaSure consortium has been selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment's Capital Projects Division has established a dedicated team to manage this PPP contract with AquaSure on behalf of the State.
For more than a decade, our state has struggled with rainfall significantly below the long-term average.
We still need to save water, but our desalination plant and other Victorian Government water projects are our roadmap back from severe water restrictions.