Alkimos seawater desalination
plant project
10 March 2023
Water Corporations authorised consultants are undertaking marine investigations offshore of Alkimos between March 10 and 20, 2023. A large vessel will be in the area and lobster pots are a snagging risk. We respectfully request that lobster pots are removed from the area before work starts on the March 10. Lobster pots can be replaced from March 20, 2023 (which is when the vessel is expected to have left the area). We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.
28 February 2023
Water Corporation invites organisations with suitable experience, capability, and capacity to submit a Registration of Interest for the ASDP Enabling Earthworks Project.
Bid Invitation Number - 70000013699
6 February 2023
Late last year, Water Corporation's authorised consultants Advisian and its contractor MES carried out investigations off the coast of Alkimos. Our consultants will return to the area to complete a small section of work that they were unable to complete during the previous campaign. Work will take place for approximately three days between February 20 and 27, 2023 during daylight hours.
30 January 2023
Come down to Oceans 27 927 Portside Promenade, Alkimos) on Thursday 9 February from 10 AM to 12 PM. Say hello to us and you may receive a coffee voucher (numbers limited)!
17 November 2022
Water Corporation's authorised consultants Advisian and its contractor MES will undertake geophysical investigations off the coast of Alkimos from 21 November 2022 for approximately one week.
The information is critical to inform the location and construction of the intake and outfall pipelines. Please refer to the information sheet for more information.
1 September 2022
Drinking water produced by the proposed Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant will be transferred via a 33-kilometre below-ground pipeline to Wanneroo Reservoir where it will join Perth’s water supply.
Water Corporation and its contractors will undertake feature surveys and service location works along the pipeline alignment. The service identification will involve a vacuum excavation truck and you may notice PVC pipe left in place. The surveys will be in the road reserve and public open space and we will not need to enter private property. The surveys will be completed by mid-November 2022.
15 September 2022
Water Corporation referred the proposal for the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant to the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in 2019. A detailed Environmental Review Document (ERD) is being assessed by the EPA. The EPA will consider submissions as part of its assessment process. The four-week public comment period starts on 28 September and will close on October 25, 2022. Copies of the ERD may be downloaded from www.epa.wa.gov.au (scroll down, click on 3. Assessment and then Environmental Review).
Hard copies are available for examination at the Wanneroo, Clarkson and Yanchep/Two Rocks Public Libraries. A limited number of hard copies are available on a first-come, first-served basis from Water Corporation Reception at 629 Newcastle Street, Leederville. Please telephone (08) 9420 2479 to ensure availability.
Project goal:
Deliver a new seawater desalination plant at Alkimos - WA's next major water source.
Status:
In design
Delivery Date:
First production in 2028
Learn more about
What's happening
Project scope
Plant location
When is the plant needed?
Working with the community
Projecting Aboriginal heritage
Protecting the environment
What’s happening?
A reduction in rainfall and an increase in population means Western Australia needs a new water source. The Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant will be WA’s next major water source. At completion of stage 1 the plant will supply 50 billion litres of clean, safe drinking water to millions of Western Australians each year. With further investment and construction, stage 2 will increase the plant capacity to 100 billion litres per year.
What is the scope of the project?
The desalination plant in Alkimos will include:
- A 50 billion litres per year desalination plant within the Alkimos Water Precinct, with the possibility of a future 50 billion litres per year expansion
- An ocean intake pipeline below the seabed that brings seawater into the plant
- An ocean discharge pipeline below the seabed that safely takes brine (salty water) away from the plant
- A 33.5-kilometre pipeline to convey drinking water produced by the plant to Wanneroo Reservoir for supply into Perth’s Integrated Water Supply Scheme
- Built-up, vegetated sand dunes on the western side of Alkimos Water Precinct. We will incorporate this into the existing natural dune system to minimise potential visual and noise impacts from the plant.
- Provision for a 4.9 billion litres per year groundwater treatment plant and local bores.
Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant concept illustration showing the plant incorporated into the natural dune system.
Where will the new plant be built?
The plant will be built within an area known as Alkimos Water Precinct, between Marmion Avenue and the coast. Water Corporation is the proprietor of the land and already operates a wastewater treatment plant at the precinct.
view image
Map showing the Alkimos Water Precinct and the location of the future desalination plant.
Alkimos Water Precinct
Alkimos Water Precinct
be retained.
When will we need a new desalination plant?
Based on current trends, we will need an extra 75 to 125 billion litres of water per year by 2035. Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant will be the first new water source to help make up this shortfall.
Working with the community
In 2018, we consulted with the local community about a potential seawater desalination plant in Alkimos. There is a high level of support from locals and the Perth community for desalination as a rainfall independent water source in Alkimos.
We invited the community to learn about the project and provide feedback. This was through a series of local face-to-face events and our online platform.
We have taken your feedback and ideas into consideration and completed additional studies to refine potential construction methods and precinct designs. We are dedicated to minimising any potential disruption to the local community. We have already used initial feedback to reduce potential visual and noise impacts.
For regular updates, go to our Updates section or subscribe for email updates. We will provide written updates to the local community about work that affects them and opportunities for face-to-face engagement.
A Community Reference Panel has been established to provide local residents and stakeholders with opportunities to participate in two-way consultation. The panel's first meeting was held in July 2023. Panel meetings are held quarterly to keep stakeholders informed as we move forward with this exciting infrastructure project.
Protecting the environment
We have conducted extensive research to minimise environmental impacts.
We've investigated the location and methods for constructing the ocean pipelines. These pipelines will bring seawater in and safely remove brine from the plant. The ocean pipelines will be tunnelled underground to protect the dunes and marine environment.
The pipelines will be tunnelled deep underneath the seabed to avoid impacting the reef and marine life.
Another important way we will reduce our impact on the environment is by minimising our construction footprint and revegetating areas within the Alkimos Water Precinct. See the planned before and after graphic below.
We will also compensate for the unavoidable impacts of clearing vegetation by purchasing land outside the project area. For example, under the conditions of our State environmental approval, Water Corporation must acquire land that has at least twice the environmental value of land the proposal will impact.
Before
After
Protecting Aboriginal heritage
An Aboriginal heritage survey has been completed over the development area footprint of the proposed plant and pipeline route to Wanneroo Reservoir.
An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the project is being progressed and Water Corporation will engage with Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation to develop an ASDP Aboriginal Engagement Strategy. This strategy will set the framework for engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders and identify opportunities for Traditional Owner participation in project planning, procurement, employment
and heritage.
Notices of Proposal
Rachael Cutler - Community Engagement Specialist