Construction begins on Eyre Peninsula desalination project

SA Water has announced progress on the Eyre Peninsula desalination project, with major contractors confirmed to deliver the desalination plant and supporting marine infrastructure. The organisation says that the project will secure a long-term, climate-resilient water supply for the Eyre Peninsula, supplementing the existing Uley South groundwater basin and reducing reliance on the Murray River to deliver drinking water to around 35,000 customers across the region.

ACCIONA, which led the Early Contractor Involvement phase, has been awarded the full contract to deliver the desalination plant and will manage the overall project construction. McConnell Dowell has been engaged to deliver the marine infrastructure components, including the ocean intake and outfall which involves tunnelling beneath the ocean floor to minimise disturbance to the coastline.

South Australian-based construction company Leed will design and construct the transfer pipeline to deliver clean drinking water from the new plant to the existing water distribution network. SA Water says environmental management remains a key priority, with recent design and construction adjustments reducing the project’s environmental footprint.

With the project partners now confirmed and detailed designs complete, the project has entered the full construction phase. This follows the successful completion of early site preparation activities, including native vegetation clearing, removal of an old rail embankment, installation of a new access road and truck wheel wash, and topographic and geotechnical investigations.

At the same time, existing services at a nearby wastewater treatment plant that are no longer required are being decommissioned to make way for the construction.

Cable installation by SA Power Networks in Port Lincoln has now been completed, marking a major step in connecting the desalination plant to the electricity distribution network from the Port Lincoln city substation.

Image credit: iStock.com/Alter_photo