PROJECT HISTORY

On 19 June 2007 the Victorian Government announced plans to construct a desalination plant as part of the next stage of its Water Plan.  This announcement followed the completion of a seawater desalination feasibility study conducted by Melbourne Water.

The Government committed to a single Public Private Partnership (PPP) package for the whole project and a comprehensive tender process commenced when expressions of interest were called in June 2008.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Capital Projects Division is managing the project on behalf of the Victorian Government. DSE completed a thorough Environment Effects Statement (EES) prior to awarding the contract. The EES examined the potential impacts 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 8100 pages of technical appendices.

On 30 July 2009 the Victorian Government awarded the Victorian Desalination Project contract to AquaSure to finance, build, maintain and operate the project for 30 years. AquaSure's fixed price for construction of the whole project is $3.5 billion.

DSE has managed the acquisition of all plant site land (263 ha) and pipeline/power supply easements on behalf of the State, as well as obtained key project approvals (planning, environment, native title, etc). Significant terrestrial and marine investigations have also been undertaken.

Construction of the desalination plant and water transfer pipeline commenced on 30 September 2009. The project is on schedule for commissioning to be completed in June 2012 ready for the State's first water ordering year in accordance with the contract.