PROJECT OUTLINE
In May 2007, Premier Alan Carpenter announced that the second seawater desalination project will be Western Australia’s next major water source.
The proposed site for the desalination plant is off Taranto Road, north of Binningup and is currently being assessed under the Public Environmental Review (PER) level of assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The new desalination plant will provide 50 gigalitres of water a year into the integrated water supply system from November 2010, with potential to increase to 100 gigalitres.
The cost of the project is approximately $955 million. This included the cost of the plant, pipeline and other infrastructure required to integrate the plant with the Integrated Water Supply System. It was expected that the workforce would peak at about 500 people during construction.
ALLIANCE PROCESS
In July 2007, the Water Corporation announced a competitive alliance model that will see the new plant designed, built and operated by private industry for 27 years whilst remaining under the ownership of the Water Corporation.
The Water Corporation announced on the 20 November 2008 that the Southern SeaWater Alliance (SSWA) was the preferred consortia to build and operate Western Australia's second seawater desalination plant near Binningup in the south west. The final contact will be let for the Alliance once all project approvals have been given by both the Western Australian and Federal governments.
The SSWA is led by Spanish companies, Tecnicas Reunidas and Valoriza Agua. Its partners are construction company, AJ Lucas and engineering consultancy Worley Parsons. Tecnicas Reunidas and Valoriza Agua have extensive major desalination experience and are international multidiscipline construction companies. These two companies will operate the 50 gigalitres of water a year plant, which will be owned by the Water Corporation, for 25 years.
LOCAL CONTENT AND COMMUNITIES
The project is expected to deliver long-term social, economic and environmental benefits to the local community. The Water Corporation welcomes community involvement in the project and will look to source some materials and employees from the local area. Water Corporation is providing the opportunity for suppliers to offer services to the competing Alliances directly through this website.
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