EARLY WORKS COMMENCE ON QLD’S LARGEST DESALINATION FACILITY

JOINT STATEMENT

Early works on Queensland’s largest desalination facility are underway with Deputy Premier Anna Bligh and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke today turning the first sod on the site of the new water supply plant at Tugun.

The Deputy Premier said the desalination project was an integral part of the State Government’s comprehensive regional water supply strategy.

“Our Government is investing significant funding in the project with $80 million committed for early works such as preparing the site and ordering specialised tunnel boring machines,” Ms Bligh said.

“We recognise the desalination facility has the potential to not only secure water supplies for the Gold Coast, but also to provide a vital source of water for South-east Queensland,” she said.

“When completed this plant will deliver a significant new source of water that we hope will prevent an ‘Armageddon’ water situation.

“The project has the potential to deliver 125 million litres of desalinated water per day by the end of 2008.

“This represents more than 15 percent of the entire south-east’s current needs and is sufficient to meet the water needs of at least 400,000 people.

“Early works will also commence this month on the 120km Southern Regional Water Pipeline, which will connect the Gold Coast water system, including the Hinze Dam and Tugun desalination plant, to the main Brisbane water grid.”

Ms Bligh said today’s event also delivered on the Beattie Government’s commitment to commence site works on the new desalination plant within its first 100 days.

“Our Government is committed to working with local authorities like the Gold Coast City Council to investigate all available avenues to ensure the sustainability of our water resources,” she said.

The proposed plant will use a process of reverse osmosis where the sea water is diffused through a membrane under high pressure removing salts and impurities to ensure the water is suitable for human consumption.

Council and the State jointly committed $100 million to an ‘early works’ program in July. The program includes:

• Purchasing construction items with long lead times
• Detailed design for the desalination plant and pipelines
• Preparing the site for the future construction of the desalination plant
• Commencing some early onsite construction activities

Cr Clarke said he had always been a supporter of desalination.

“I strongly believe this plant will make a significant difference to our current water situation,” he said.

“The commencement of the early works program is symbolic of Council and the State Government’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the region’s water supplies.

“Desalination is not dependant on climate and will provide diversity and security to our current water supply.”

Water Sustainability Chair, Cr Daphne McDonald, said the community would be involved in the project every step of the way.

“Desalination is a key element in the Gold Coast Waterfuture Strategy – a blueprint for the sustainable management of our water sources to meet the city’s water supply demands to the year 2056 – and is strongly supported by the community,” said Cr McDonald.

“The GCD Alliance is a consortium of organisations appointed to deliver the project. The team will continue to work closely with Council, the State Government, local community members and project stakeholders to manage impacts of the early works program.

“The alliance is liaising with other project teams in the area to ensure local community impacts are minimised.

“A Local Community Reference Group has also been established to oversee local issues associated with the project and ensure ongoing community involvement.

“From today, local residents will notice an increase in activity, including traffic flow, in and around the Tugun site. However, plans are in place to limit noise, dust, light emissions and traffic disturbance.”

A communication program has been developed to ensure residents are kept updated on project works. Local residents have been notified of early works and increased local construction activity by letterbox drops, advertisements in local newspapers and signage.

Additional Information:

The Gold Coast Desalination project comprises construction of:

• A reverse osmosis desalination plant at Boyd Street, Tugun (adjacent to the GoldCoastAirport)
• An inlet and outlet tunnel from the proposed plant site to the ocean
• A water distribution pipeline - to connect the plant to an existing water treatment facility at Molendinar

Further information on this project is available at www.goldcoastwater.com.au/desalination

Media contacts:

Deputy Premier’s office: 3224 6900     Gold Coast City Council: 5581 6607