Gold Coast desalination project
Encyclopedia
The Gold Coast desalination project is a reverse osmosis
, water desalination plant that supplies water to the Gold Coast
and South East
Queensland
via the South East Queensland Water Grid
, located in Tugun
.
After investigations by the Gold Coast Desalination Alliance, the Gold Coast City Council chose Tugun as the most suitable site for the desalination plant. The cost is expected to be in excess of $1 billion. The GCD Alliance consists of Veolia Water
, John Holland Group, and SureSmart Water, representing the State of Queensland.
Initial plans were for a $260 million plant producing 55 megalitres a day. The State Government
then contributed $869 million to increase the output to 125 megalitres a day to share with the rest of southeast Queensland. There is potential to increase output to 167 megalitres a day, however the plant is currently a reserve site on the Queensland Water Commission
's list of possible sites for future desalination plants. Lytton
and either Marcoola
or Bribie Island are the priority sites.
has refused to accept ownership of the plant until all problems are rectified.
and GECKO have expressed concern over environmental issues with the project. The carbon emissions from the desalination plant have been offset with the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs). The RECs have been produced by a range of renewable energy sources with the main source being solar hot water system installations. Other sources include solar photovoltaic, hydro and a small amount of wind.
confirmed the plant will go into standby mode in December 2010 as a cost saving measure. It is planned to restart operations if the combined water total for the region drops below 60%.
Reverse osmosis plant
A reverse osmosis plant is a manufacturing plant where the process of reverse osmosis takes place. An average modern reverse osmosis plant needs six kilowatt-hours of electricity to desalinate one cubic metre of water. The process also results in an amount of salty briny waste...
, water desalination plant that supplies water to the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
and South East
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
via the South East Queensland Water Grid
South East Queensland Water Grid
The SEQ Water Grid is a region-wide, long term, water supply scheme that provides a sustainable water infrastructure network for the South East Queensland region of Australia. The project was the largest urban response to the Drought in Australia, which was severely affecting water supplies in...
, located in Tugun
Tugun, Queensland
Tugun is a beachside suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Tugun had a population of 4,821.Its name is believed to have derived from an Indigenous word of unknown dialect meaning "breaking waves"....
.
After investigations by the Gold Coast Desalination Alliance, the Gold Coast City Council chose Tugun as the most suitable site for the desalination plant. The cost is expected to be in excess of $1 billion. The GCD Alliance consists of Veolia Water
Veolia Water
Veolia Water , the water division of the French company Veolia Environnement, is the world's largest supplier of water services....
, John Holland Group, and SureSmart Water, representing the State of Queensland.
Initial plans were for a $260 million plant producing 55 megalitres a day. The State Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
then contributed $869 million to increase the output to 125 megalitres a day to share with the rest of southeast Queensland. There is potential to increase output to 167 megalitres a day, however the plant is currently a reserve site on the Queensland Water Commission
Queensland Water Commission
The Queensland Water Commission is a Queensland Government agency established to develop long term water supply strategies. The Commission is chaired by Mary Boydell and the current chief executive officer is John Bradley....
's list of possible sites for future desalination plants. Lytton
Lytton, Queensland
Lytton is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is 15 km north-east of the CBD.Although Lytton was once a town, it is now primarily commercial and industrial. It shares the same postcode as the Port of Brisbane....
and either Marcoola
Marcoola, Queensland
Marcoola is a suburb on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It includes the developments of Town of Seaside and Mount Coolum Shores as well as being a popular destination for tourists....
or Bribie Island are the priority sites.
Defects
In January 2009, rust and valve problems delayed the plant's opening. The plant began operations in February 2009 and has been operating according to grid instructions since that time, except for a five week shutdown in May 2009 and a three month shutdown from June to August 2010 to repair previously identified defects. During the initial shutdown a formal investigation of these problems was undertaken. In June 2009 some further faults were identified, all bar one of which have now been rectified with the final piece of work to be completed by the end of August 2010. These defects do not affect the plant's ability to produce clean safe water but had implications for its long term viability. The Queensland GovernmentGovernment of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
has refused to accept ownership of the plant until all problems are rectified.
The Tugun site
Tugun was selected as the preferred site for the proposed plant for a number of reasons. It has the least environmental impact when compared to the other short-listed sites. It has the lowest comparative net present value cost. The site is the only one to which sufficient power can be provided to enable the facility to be operational within the required timeframe. It is aligned with community values and expectations – community consultation conducted late last year highlighted that environmental impacts and cost were the most important issues when considering the location of the proposed plant. It is compatible with surrounding land use, is within close proximity to the ocean and hence requires the shortest intake and outtake pipelines of the three site options and the inlet and outlet pipes cross a minor fault line.Community concerns
Ongoing monitoring is undertaken at the plant as part of its environmental licence. Underwater footage http://www.watersecure.com.au/what-we-do/underwater-footage shows an abundance of marine life is now active around artificial reefs that have been created on the marine structures. Community groups such as the Queensland Conservation CouncilQueensland Conservation Council
The Queensland Conservation Council or Queensland Conservation is a non-governmental organisation that represents all the major regional and community environmental and conservation organisations of Queensland state in Australia. The organisation grew from a small, diverse group of people which...
and GECKO have expressed concern over environmental issues with the project. The carbon emissions from the desalination plant have been offset with the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs). The RECs have been produced by a range of renewable energy sources with the main source being solar hot water system installations. Other sources include solar photovoltaic, hydro and a small amount of wind.
Mothballing
A Queensland Water Commission report proposes "mothballing", all but closing the plant to reign in costs driving up household water bills. On the 5 December 2010, Natural Resources Minister, Stephen RobertsonStephen Robertson (politician)
Stephen Robertson , Australian politician, is a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the electoral district of Stretton for the Australian Labor Party. He was the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade in the cabinet of Premier Anna Bligh...
confirmed the plant will go into standby mode in December 2010 as a cost saving measure. It is planned to restart operations if the combined water total for the region drops below 60%.
See also
- List of desalination plants in Australia
- Water security in AustraliaWater security in AustraliaWater security in Australia has become a major concern over the course of the late 20th and early 21st century as a result of population growth, severe drought, fears of the effects of global warming on Australia, environmental degradation from reduced environmental flows, competition between...