LOCATION

The Victorian Desalination Project site is located on cleared farmland behind coastal dunes near the township of Wonthaggi, about 135 kilometres from Melbourne.

A feasibility study prepared by the Victorian Government considered nine ‘long-listed’ locations. Four locations were then short listed, with the Bass Coast identified as having the best mix of features needed to build a desalination plant. These include:

• access to open ocean providing a clean water source and effective dispersal of salty concentrate
• a lower risk of adverse effects on marine ecology
• a location east of Melbourne for connection to the existing water distribution system.

You can view a diagram of the area of the plant site (PDF 852kb) and surrounding coastal park, while the map below shows the location of the site.

History

AquaSure acknowledges the traditional owners of the land upon which the desalination plant is being built — the Bunurong people.

Wonthaggi has a rich industrial history. Explorer William Hovell first discovered coal in the Bass Coast area in 1826 and attempts to mine the coal were made from 1859 onwards.

In November 1909, the Government established the State Coal Mine in the Powlett River district. Over 59 years, until December 1968, the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine yielded over 16 million tonnes of coal, which fired Victoria’s railways and played a critical role in the State’s development.

The location of Victoria’s desalination plant is near the historic site of the State Coal Mine.

A century ago, Wonthaggi was famous for providing Victoria with its main source of coal. From December 2011 it will also be known for its contribution of much-needed water.