Victorian Desalination Project
Project Proponent: Department of Sustainability and Environment (Capital Projects Division)
Overview
In June 2007, the Victorian Government released Our Water Our Future: The Next Stage of the Government's Water Plan. As part of this Plan, the Victorian Government announced on 19 June 2007 its intention to develop a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant on the coast near Wonthaggi to augment Melbourne's water supply, as well as other regional supply systems.
Associated infrastructure includes tunnels connecting the plant to marine intake and discharge structures, an 85km pipeline to connect the plant to Melbourne’s water supply system, and power supply infrastructure for the plant.
The plant is intended to provide up to 150 billion litres of additional water to Melbourne, Geelong, Westernport and South Gippsland with the potential to expand production to 200 billion litres per year.
On this page:
- Minister for Planning's Assessment
- Inquiry
- Hearings
- Exhibition of EES
- Project History
- Further Information
The Minister for Planning has released his Assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 which concludes the EES process. The Assessment has been provided to statutory decision-makers to inform approval decisions on this project.
Final Assessment - Victorian Desalination Project (PDF - 565 KB) Media Release (PDF - 32 KB)Inquiry
The Minister for Planning appointed an Inquiry under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to consider the Victorian Desalination Project.
Following the conclusion of its hearing on 7 November 2008, the Inquiry prepared its report to the Minister for Planning, which was submitted on 4 December 2008.
Desalination Plant EES Inquiry Report (PDF - 1.8 MB)The Inquiry members were:
- Kathryn Mitchell – Chair
- Chris Harty
- Garth Lampe
- Greg Sharply
- Nick Wimbush
Information about the Inquiry (PDF - 162 KB) Terms of Reference (PDF - 3.0 MB)The inquiry held a public briefing session on 10 September 2008 at 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne at which the Proponent and its specialists outlined the content of the EES and the Works Approval Application.
Notice of Public Briefing Session (PDF - 102 KB)Presentations made by the Proponent at the public briefing session:
EES Overview Presentation (PDF - 890 KB) EES Reference Project Presentation (PDF - 1.4 MB)Hearings
A Directions Hearing was held on Wednesday 8 October 2008 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Drive, Pakenham.
The Inquiry held public hearings In Pakenham and San Remo to assist in its consideration of the EES and the submissions made to it. These hearings commenced on Tuesday 14 October 2008 and concluded on Friday 7 November 2008.
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Documents tabled at the Hearings
Desalination Inquiry Document List as of 11 November 2008 (PDF - 92 KB)Additional information supplied to the Inquiry
In response to a request from the Inquiry on the final day of the hearings, the EPA has provided further advice on:
- proponent's 'Response to EPA Questions', tabled at the Inquiry on 7 November 2008;
- performance requirements;
- statutory provisions for amendment of a Works Approval: and
- clarification of EPA's advice on the classification of waste
EPA response to Inquiry request for advice (PDF - 330 KB)Exhibition of EES
The Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Victorian Desalination Project was released for public comment for a period of 30 business days, from 20 August to 30 September 2008. The EES can be downloaded from the website www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/programs/desalination/environment.
A Works Approval Application for the desalination plant has been submitted to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and was jointly exhibited with the EES. A summary of the EPA Works Approval Application can be downloaded from the EPA website.
Project History
Required assessment process
On 28 December 2007, the Minister for Planning determined that the Victorian Desalination Project requires assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978.
Wonthaggi Desalination Project EES - Minister's Decision (PDF - 26 KB)On 4 February 2008, the Australian Government determined that the Victorian Desalination Project is a controlled action requiring approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Australian Government has accredited the assessment process under the Environment Effects Act 1978 as the required assessment process under the EPBC Act.
Scoping requirements
The scoping requirements for the Victorian Desalination Project EES provided guidance on environmental effects and related matters to be investigated and then documented in the EES. Draft scoping requirements for the EES were placed on public exhibition from 21 February 2008 until 13 March 2008. After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued the final scoping requirements for the EES on 4 May 2008.
Final Scoping Requirements Desalination Project (PDF - 1.3 MB)Independent Expert Group
The Department of Planning and Community Development appointed an Independent Expert Group (IEG) to provide advice on the design and soundness of key studies for the Victorian Desalination Project EES.
The IEG consists of experts in the fields of oceanography, marine ecology, water and sediment quality and desalination technology. Its members are:
- Adjunct Prof. Desmond Lord, University of Western Australia, specialist in oceanography
- Dr Jenny Stauber, CSIRO Centre for Contaminant Research, specialist in water and sediment quality
- Mr Tom Pankratz, independent consultant from the USA, specialist in desalination technology
- Prof. Michael Keough, Melbourne University, specialist in marine ecology.
- Document No 017 - IEG report (advice on the EES)
- Document No 182 - IEG response to Inquiry questions
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Further Information
- Media enquiries: Contact Luke Enright on 0409 952 447
- Questions about the project: Contact Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Project Information Office 1 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi on 1800 811 214, (03) 5671 3900 or Information Victoria on 1300 366 356.
- Questions about the EPA Works Approval Application process should be directed to the EPA South Metropolitan Regional Office on (03) 8710 5555
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.