The new contracts awarded today are in addition to $17 million in works already underway at the site which have created 35 jobs.

Water Minister Tim Holding, who visited the desalination plant site near Wonthaggi today, said new contracts have been awarded for investigative offshore drilling and construction of a seawater sampling plant.

“The Brumby Government is taking action to diversify our water supplies by providing a non-rainfall dependent source of water for Melbourne, Geelong and towns in Western Port and South Gippsland,” Mr Holding said.

“This is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Victoria’s history and demonstrates the Victorian Government’s commitment to investing for the future to secure our water supply.

“The creation of new jobs during construction and ongoing jobs as part of the operation of the plant is great news for Victorians, especially for people in Gippsland.”

A $4.5 million offshore drilling contract has been awarded to Sides Drilling Contractors and two contracts worth $550,000 have been awarded to a Morwell-based company, Latrobe Valley Engineering Services (LVES).
 
Mr Holding said the seawater sampling plant will allow the project’s short listed tenderers to gain access to a steady flow of seawater for their pilot plants.

“By sampling seawater we will gain a better understanding of the characteristics of water from Bass Strait and enable suitable technology to be developed,” he said.

Mr Holding said the offshore geotechnical drilling will assess subsurface conditions around the structures that will take water to and from the desalination plant.

“Sides Drilling will drill boreholes to assess ground conditions around the proposed tunnels for the desalination plant’s inlet and outlet pipes,” he said.

“The holes will be drilled from a jack-up platform barge, which will be towed into position and jacked up from the seabed to sit over water between 10m and 25m deep.”

Mr Holding said preliminary works are progressing well and the project is on track to deliver up to 150 billion litres of water by the end of 2011.

“Pipes are being constructed in preparation for the seawater sampling unit and other drilling works are exploring potential sites for the inlet and outlet pipes for the desalination plant.”

Mr Holding also met with local protest group Your Water Your Say and a local council while in the region to discuss the progress of the project.

Member for Eastern Victoria MLC Johan Scheffer said the community had until 30 September 2008 to provide feedback on the Environment Effects Statement (EES).

“The EES found there will be no long-term or irreversible damage to the environment from the construction or operation of the project,” Mr Scheffer said. 

“The Victorian Government has confidence that the depth of rigorous technical investigations and the success of interstate and international desalination plants indicate that this vital water project can be implemented while protecting the environment.”

For further information on the EES call 1800 811 214 or go to:
http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/programs/desalination