COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
AquaSure has pledged to deliver the most technically advanced, environmentally sensitive and energy efficient desalination facility in Australia.
In line with this, AquaSure is committed to minimising the impact of the plant’s construction and operation on the surrounding areas and communities. Its top environmental priorities are to:
- protect ecological values near the desalination plant and other project infrastructure
- protect the marine, coastal and estuarine environment by tunnelling under the coast and using suitable intake and outlet structure designs
- use the best possible design to ensure the structures integrate well into the coastal landscape
- offset the energy used to operate the plant by purchasing renewable energy certificates.
The Victorian Desalination Project has been put through the highest levels of environmental assessment available under Commonwealth and State laws. At its inception, a thorough Environment Effects Statement (EES) was undertaken. The EES examined the potential impact of building and operating the desalination plant, an 84km pipeline and a range of power supply options, and ran to more than 9700 pages, including 1600 pages in the main volume and 1800 pages of technical appendices.
A comprehensive Environmental Management Framework has been established that includes detailed performance requirements for the plant, marine structures, pipeline and power supply.
This framework has led to the preparation of an Environmental Management System and Environmental Management Plans for design and construction. Similar plans for the operation and maintenance phase are also being developed.
The project is subject to an extensive range of environmental approvals, permits and consents. A number of agencies monitor and report on the project’s environmental performance at every stage of its development and will continue to do so once it is operational.