Desal expansion floated

THE state government is being urged to consider a potential expansion of capacity at the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant, along with the possibility of building an additional desalination plant.

Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA) floated these ideas as potential ways to achieve water supply diversification.

The alliance of community and environment groups argues that such diversification of water supply will enable less water to be drawn from rivers for consumptive purposes and agriculture.

It views such an outcome as a win for the environment.

CWA put forward its ideas on boosting Victoria’s desalination capacity in its detailed response to the state government’s Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.

While the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant can currently produce up to 150 gigalitres a year, CWA states that can be boosted to 200GL a year with the addition of increased reverse osmosis units.

“Given that Melbourne’s population growth will continue, it is foreseeable that the second stage expansion of the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant will have to be brought forward in readiness to meet demand by 2030,” CWA states.

The organisation argues planning should commence immediately to allow for a full environmental assessment.

It also suggests boosting capacity at Victoria’s existing desalination plant may not be enough.

“There is a significant question as to whether the Wonthaggi plant should be the only desalination plant in Victoria,” CWA states.

“In recent years a case has been made for a second desalination plant, so that an independent supply could be established for West of Melbourne (Melton, Sunbury, Gisborne, Mt Macedon, and Romsey), Greater Geelong and Surf Coast plus also potentially supplying Ballarat.

“This option would be intended to address the need to diversify supply points and the overall cost of pumping and system efficiency from Wonthaggi around to Geelong and potentially to Ballarat.

“Additional capacity at Wonthaggi could then be redirected to North of Melbourne and West and South Gippsland as needs be.”

If proposed, the location for a second desalination plant would need a thorough investigation, CWA noted.

The organisation’s support for an additional desalination plant in Victoria would be dependent on certain criteria being met.

CWA calls for future desalination plants to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, use best-practice technology and be subject to full environmental assessment.

In March 2021, Acting Minister for Water, Richard Wynne, announced a 125GL order for desalination plant water for 2021-22. That water order began to be filled on July 1, with desalinated water since flowing to South Gippsland Water, Westernport Water and Melbourne Water.

Shift water focus

An alliance of community and environment groups is urging the Victorian government to shift its focus in planning for future water sustainability.

The Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA) response to the government’s Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy (SWS) draft raises concerns environmental issues aren’t receiving sufficient attention.

It says the government’s draft strategy relegates environmental outcomes for rivers behind urban supply and consumptive use.

CWA includes Environmental Justice Australia, Environment Victoria and partner groups from Gippsland to the Otways, including Gippsland Environment Group.

“We propose the SWS prioritise strong ecosystem health outcomes rather than treat environmental outcomes as contingent on urban water supply solutions,” the CWA states in its response to the Victorian government’s draft water plan.

The CWA’s focus is on reducing the water drawn from rivers for consumptive purposes and agriculture, with an emphasis on alternative approaches to help meet those needs.

The organisation calls for prospective water supply diversification approaches such as increased desalination capacity, or upgrades to water treatment plants to be declared projects of state significance. CWA argues that will enable such projects to be funded by government or through public-private partnerships.