26 March 2010
CONNECTING DESALINATION TO MELBOURNE
- New 2.3km pipeline for desalinated water
- Non-rainfall dependent source of water
- More flexibility in supplying water to Melbourne
Melbourne Water has awarded a contract to build infrastructure that will help deliver desalinated water to the city's supply network.
John Holland and Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) will form the Cardinia Connection Alliance with Melbourne Water to construct a 2.3km water pipeline to Melbourne's second biggest reservoir and build a new pump station.
Melbourne Water's General Manager of Asset Planning, Paul Pretto, said the $50 million project will connect the end of the 84km pipeline from the desalination plant, which finishes in Berwick, with Melbourne's existing water supply system.
“The desalination plant will deliver up to 150 billion litres of additional water a year into our system, which is more than a third of Melbourne's annual water use,” Dr Pretto said.
“The past 10 years were the toughest on record for our dams by a big margin, and as the city continues to grow, it's clear we need to diversify our system to include non-rainfall dependent sources.”
The desalination plant is being built in Wonthaggi by AquaSure, which recently laid the first pipes to transfer the treated sea water from the plant towards Melbourne.
Melbourne Water will install new fittings at Berwick to connect the desalination delivery pipeline to the existing water network, and will upgrade valves and fittings on the Cardinia/Pearcedale main.
Desalinated water will travel along the Cardinia/Pearcedale main from Berwick and then through Melbourne Water's new pipeline into Cardinia Reservoir.
A new pump station will enable desalinated water to be transferred along an existing pipeline from Cardinia to Silvan Reservoir, expanding the supply footprint for desalinated water to most of suburban Melbourne.
Dr Pretto said John Holland and SKM have experience in delivering similar works, particularly as both were part of the Alliance that built the 70km Sugarloaf Pipeline.
“The Sugarloaf Pipeline and the desalination plant will provide more flexibility in how we supply water to Melbourne, which we know is the key to dealing with climate uncertainty and population growth.”
Construction of the new 2.3km pipeline is starting. The desalination plant is scheduled for completion by the end-2011.
Media Contact: Gavin Rainsford – 03 9235 1587 M – 0400 690 502