COM: Port Stanvac Desalination Plant | 100gL | $1.8b

[SRW]

And even if they did, they have the money - whats with the federal inclusion?

No they don't. With present expenditure commitments, all evidence shows they'll struggle to even meet Foley's surplus target of $30 million.

Commonwealth funding will be necessary for this project to eventuate.

[skyliner]

I have to confess that the desal plant seemed a bit sudden. Not much in SA gov't coffers explains why not much appears to have been done about the water issue. May be a just a hasty knee-jerk reaction to the latest news on the Murray - I still believe that there is something of truth concerning the desal news - a strong reliable water supply is critical to Adelaide . the whole idea is greatly overdue - too much prodcrastination.

Procrastination has caused some scares up here in Brisbane. We have a number of approaches under way to alleviate running out of water - all started far too late and very slow in implememtation and construction. - we will be facing the wall up here if no rain in summer. Now 20 months supply left due to recent unseasonal rain. Winter generally are very dry. Thus, action in SA is critical NOW. Surely they can see this. Other infrastructure may have to wait - no water no Adelaide as we know it.

Alarmist - I don't think so!

[Ho Really]

Yes, water underpins everything else. No water, no life!

Regarding Pelican Point. They have a power station right next door, but will they pump the brine to the salt pans (via an underwater pipeline)? Port Stanvac seems a better proposition environmentally, but what is the decision regarding the old oil refinery? Will there be an independent depot there for fuel as suggested by the SA Farmers?

Someone here suggested Backstairs Passage were tidal currents are stronger. A desal plant at Cape Jervis powered by wind energy sounds OK. It would also supply water to to growing towns of Victor Harbor, Goolwa and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Cheers

[rhino]

Here's an article from today, about using wave power to fuel the plant. Unfortunately SA's wave power is not near Adelaide, however!

CARA JENKIN
September 10, 2007 02:15am

AN emission-free, privately-funded desalination plant capable of supplying one quarter of Adelaide's water supply is being considered for the state's coastline.

Perth-based clean energy technology company Carnegie Corporation is investigating building the combined 50 gigalitre desalination plant and 50 megawatt power station at a site in southern Australia.

The $400 million plant would use wave energy as its source of power. It would be the world's first wave-driven desalination plant and would not produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carnegie managing director Michael Ottaviano said locations on Eyre Peninsula between Port Lincoln and Ceduna, and the Limestone Coast between Robe and the Victorian border were under consideration.

"We want to go into the area of greatest demand and SA is probably the state with the greatest demand at the moment," he said.

Southwestern Australia, western Victoria and western Tasmania also have been identified as possible sites because of their powerful waves.

The State Government is considering its support for the project as part of its investigation into desalination.

Opposition leader Martin Hamilton-Smith called it an encouraging prospect.

A decision is expected by early November. Construction could begin in 2009.

The plant would become operational in 2011, increasing to full production in 2014.

[Cruise]

Perth-based clean energy technology company Carnegie Corporation is investigating building the combined 50 gigalitre desalination plant and 50 megawatt power station at a site in southern Australia.

just build a 200 gig plant and were set forever.

[Froggy]

They should build the proposed pipleine from Lake Argyle which would solve the water crisis we have in SA within 3 years and then worry about whether to also build a desal plant.

[rhino]

They should build the proposed pipleine from Lake Argyle which would solve the water crisis we have in SA within 3 years and then worry about whether to also build a desal plant.

What proposed pipeline? Who proposed that? You?

[Froggy]

They should build the proposed pipleine from Lake Argyle which would solve the water crisis we have in SA within 3 years and then worry about whether to also build a desal plant.

What proposed pipeline? Who proposed that? You?

Not me, I cant be arsed looking it up now, I think if your read the AdelaideNow comments about the water issue I am fairly sure someones said who in there.

[crawf]

I've heard about a pipeline from Tasmania, but not that.

The State Government is going to realise a major report on water, this week

BTW I don't know about Adelaide, but the hills have had a good downpour today

[Ho Really]

They should build the proposed pipleine from Lake Argyle which would solve the water crisis we have in SA within 3 years and then worry about whether to also build a desal plant.

What proposed pipeline? Who proposed that? You?

Wasn't this the one proposed by the WA Liberals in their last state election? We've already discussed some issues regarding this.

Cheers

[rhino]

Because of the considerable environmental concerns with bringing tropical water down south, a serious filtration plant would be required at the start of the pipeline, at Lake Argyle. That's big bucks, and would need the co-operation of several state governments (who ever is using the water, plus WA who will be supplying it) and probably the Federal Govt too. Having said that, it would be good to see more of that water being used.

There is also a lot of water in north Queensland flowing out to sea. If that could be captured, filtered at the damsite, and piped to central Queensland, it could then be fed into the upper reaches of the Murray Darling catchment and find its own way down south. It would require building a new dam, but far less pipeline. Also the dam would not need to be huge.

[Ho Really]

There is also a lot of water in north Queensland flowing out to sea. If that could be captured, filtered at the damsite, and piped...

This could be part of a solution for Brisbane's water supply.

Cheers

[rhino]

I honestly can't understand why it isn't, after so many years of drought there!

[duke]

THE State Government will build a desalination plant and double Mt Bold reservoir at a cost of more than $2.5bn to secure the state's water supplies.

In a major statement to be made in State Parliament today , Mr Rann says the desalination working group had been investigating both a 50giaglitre desalination plant and a doubling of the Mt Bold reservoir at a cost of $820m.

In the biggest infrastructure development in the State's history, the government would proceed with both.

"Based on interim reports of the group, the government's preference is to build both in an investment of more than $2.5bn,'' Mr Rann said.

''We do not intend to make a decision about such a massive investment lightly or without the best available information before us.

"We intend to do this properly instead of some slap-dash plan as proposed by the Liberal opposition. That would be negilgent and irresponsible.''

Cabinet hoped to have sign-off by November ths year after considering the final report of the desalination group in October.

Building the desalination plant was extremely costly and complicated. It was not as easy as writing a press release, Mr Rann said.

Its final cost would depend on where it was located, how the brine it produced was dispersed and from where the energy to power was is drawn.

The desalination plant could cost in excess of $1.54bn and would supply 25pc of Adelaide's annual water supply.

Unlike the Perth plant, the SA Government would build it on a site that would allow it to double in size if necessary.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

[rhino]

Wow Duke, that was quick!