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identified defects. During the initial shutdown a formal investigation of these problems was undertaken. In June 2009 some further faults were identified, all bar one of which were rectified with the final piece of work to be completed by the end of August 2010. These defects did not affect the plant's ability to produce clean safe water but had implications for its long term viability. The
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In
January 2009, rust and valve problems delayed the plant's opening. The plant began operations in February 2009 and has been operating according to grid instructions since that time, except for a five-week shutdown in May 2009 and a three-month shutdown from June to August 2010 to repair previously
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This choice was aligned with community values and expectations – community consultation conducted prior to construction highlighted that environmental impacts and cost were the most important issues when considering the location of the proposed plant. The
Bilinga site is compatible with surrounding
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Desalination is an electricity-intensive way to produce water. The plant uses around 3.58 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity for every cubic metre (kilolitre) of water it produces. To offset the carbon emissions associated with this electricity consumption, the plant operators purchase renewable
115:', primarily from 2003 to 2009. The region's major water storages reached around 50% of capacity in mid-2005 and 20% in mid-2007. In response to this worsening situation a range of water infrastructure projects were proposed to bolster supplies in south east Queensland.
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joined with the Gold Coast to expand the plan to a 133 ML/day plant that could share output with the entire region. The
Queensland Government contributed $ 869 million to the expanded project, which was to be developed through a 50:50 joint venture.
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Due to the availability of ample water in south east
Queensland's dams, water supply costs and impacts on household water bills could be reduced by minimising the plant's operations. On 5 December 2010, then Natural Resources Minister,
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energy certificates (RECs). The RECs have been produced by a range of renewable energy sources with the main source being solar hot water system installations. Other sources include solar photovoltaic, hydro and a small amount of wind.
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There is potential to increase output to 167 megalitres a day. However the plant was identified as a reserve, rather than priority, site on the
Queensland Government's list of possible sites for future desalination plants.
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In Summer 2020/2021, the desalination plant was brought up to full capacity to allow for upgrades to the Mount Crosby Water
Treatment Plant, which is expected to take more than two and a half years to complete.
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chose
Bilinga as the most suitable site for the desalination plant due to being closest to the coast, having low environmental impact and cost, and being best suited to achieving a timely construction process.
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desalination plant. The first pass removes salt, minerals and other microscopic particles, while the second pass targets boron and bromide specifications suitable for drinking water.
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initially developed a plan for a 55 ML/day desalination plant during 2005., which was anticipated to cost around $ 260 million. Due to worsening drought conditions, in 2006 the
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It is the first large-scale desalination plant on
Australia's eastern seaboard and was named Membrane Desalination Plant of the Year (2009) at the Global Water Awards.
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between
November 2019 and January 2020, the plant was operated at full capacity to help provide relief when the water grid dropped below 60 per cent capacity
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As well as the core desalination equipment, the project includes 1.5 kilometre marine intake and outlet tunnels, a 25 kilometre pipeline to connect to the
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land use, requires the shortest intake and outlet pipelines of the three site options and the inlet and outlet pipes cross a minor fault line.
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in
January 2013 it returned briefly to 100% operation to supply drinking water during the flooding of South-East Queensland due to
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Soon after being commissioned, rainfall and water storages increased in south east Queensland. Three major storages,
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The plant produced its first water in November 2008 and began supplying water to the grid in February 2009.
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The construction process was led by a group known as the Gold Coast Desalination Alliance. It consists of
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Ongoing monitoring is undertaken at the plant as part of its environmental licence. Underwater footage
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and operated by Veolia. As of Summer 2020/2021, the plant is operating at maximum production capacity.
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Investigations by the Gold Coast Desalination Alliance identified 13 possible sites of which three,
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The plant has been used for brief periods since 2010 for a range of contingencies. For example:
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744:"Desalination plant proves its worth during Molendinar water treatment plant upgrade"
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confirmed the plant would go into standby mode that month as a cost-saving measure.
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The plant plays an important role in Seqwater's plans to manage future droughts.
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dams, approached 80% of capacity in mid-2009 and reached 100% by the end of 2010.
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719:"Desal plant providing critical drinking water supplies during Queensland floods"
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that have been created on the marine structures. Community groups such as the
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and GECKO have expressed concern over environmental issues with the project.
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refused to accept ownership of the plant until all problems were rectified.
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The plant first supplied water to the grid in February 2009. It is owned by
721:. National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia. 31 January 2013
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The plant was officially handed over to the Queensland Government agency
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during August 2016 it supplied around 360 ML of water while the
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Water for life: South East Queensland's water security program
775:"Desalination Plant to fire back up for critical works"
420:"Desalination Plant to fire back up for critical works"
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shows an abundance of marine life is now active around
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Buildings and structures on the Gold Coast, Queensland
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during September 2015 it returned to service when the
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773:Lynham, The Honourable Dr Anthony (17 July 2020).
568:"Desal plant probe 'to reveal extent of problems'"
418:Lynham, The Honourable Dr Anthony (17 July 2020).
266:in October 2010. Since 1 July 2011 it is owned by
538:"Rust halts progress on Tugun desalination plant"
803:Gold Coast City Council - Water & Wastewater
661:"Study rules out two future desalination sites"
207:November 2006 to June 2008: desalination plant
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204:October 2006 to July 2008: tunnels and shafts
8:
599:"$ 1.2b Gold Coast desalination plant a dud"
345:water treatment plant was being refurbished.
111:reached very low levels during Australia's '
61:is a 125 ML/d (46 gigalitres per year)
687:"Tugun desalination plant to be mothballed"
476:"Gold Coast Desalination Plant, Queensland"
338:water treatment plant was being refurbished
213:October 2008 to January 2009: optimisation.
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210:July 2008 to November 2008: commissioning
1544:Toowoomba Water Futures referendum, 2006
659:Lucas, The Hon Paul (23 February 2009).
395:List of desalination plants in Australia
197:The project schedule was approximately:
189:, a pump station and a small reservoir.
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201:August to November 2006: initial design
1549:Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme
81:, Australia. It supplies water to the
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451:. Ipswich: Seqwater. 2015. p. 5.
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162:and Bilinga, were short-listed. The
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754:from the original on 5 January 2021
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667:from the original on 5 January 2021
640:from the original on 5 January 2021
578:from the original on 5 January 2021
548:from the original on 5 January 2021
486:from the original on 5 January 2021
426:from the original on 5 January 2021
1684:Industrial buildings in Queensland
695:. Fairfax Media. 5 December 2010.
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1478:Companies and government agencies
514:"Gold Coast Desalination Project"
193:Construction process and timeline
1679:2009 establishments in Australia
1669:Desalination plants in Australia
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634:Veolia Australia and New Zealand
512:Bellizia, George (3 June 2008).
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183:South East Queensland Water Grid
103:Project rationale and background
90:South East Queensland Water Grid
287:Queensland Conservation Council
1674:Water management in Queensland
1:
1529:Gold Coast Desalination Plant
630:"WATER MANAGEMENT - SEQWater"
59:Gold Coast Desalination Plant
46:Gold Coast Desalination Plant
1534:Mount Crosby Pumping Station
1278:Gattonvale Offstream Storage
1591:Queensland Water Commission
1525:Bundaberg Irrigation Scheme
400:Water security in Australia
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1514:Other sources / facilities
1490:Queensland Urban Utilities
597:Greg Stolz (2 June 2009).
174:The plant is a 'two-pass'
73:, a seaside suburb of the
35:28.1570416°S 153.4986086°E
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1466:Water resource management
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242:Possible future expansion
259:are the priority sites.
40:-28.1570416; 153.4986086
164:Gold Coast City Council
131:Design and construction
120:Gold Coast City Council
1596:SEQ Water Grid Manager
274:Environmental concerns
1378:North West Queensland
1220:Fitzroy River Barrage
1067:South West Queensland
876:South East Queensland
609:Queensland Newspapers
228:Queensland Government
124:Queensland Government
109:South East Queensland
1318:Far North Queensland
1098:Ben Anderson Barrage
145:Sinclair Knight Merz
748:www.seqwater.com.au
544:. 13 January 2009.
30: /
1443:Tallebudgera Creek
1190:Central Queensland
141:John Holland Group
113:Millennium drought
107:Water supplies in
67:water desalination
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373:Queensland portal
319:Stephen Robertson
69:plant located in
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1346:Return Creek
1308:Teviot Creek
1230:Middle Creek
1205:Burton Gorge
1199:Lake Awoonga
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1165:Meandu Creek
1149:Lake Gregory
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1128:Cedar Pocket
1057:Perseverance
924:Ewen Maddock
860:
839:Water supply
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1505:WaterSecure
1468:by function
1438:Nindooinbah
1422:Rifle Creek
1404:Lake Julius
1293:Peter Faust
1143:Gordonbrook
1133:Cooloolabin
845:, Australia
758:18 November
671:18 November
582:19 November
552:19 November
522:18 November
490:18 November
297:Mothballing
264:WaterSecure
251:and either
38: /
25:153°29′55″E
1658:Categories
1574:Historical
1558:Regulators
1431:Historical
1368:Wild River
1336:Irvinebank
1298:Ross River
1138:Fred Haigh
1042:Cressbrook
969:North Pine
929:Gold Creek
862:reservoirs
843:Queensland
725:29 October
703:6 December
406:References
343:Molendinar
336:Mudgeeraba
311:North Pine
86:Queensland
83:South East
79:Queensland
75:Gold Coast
44: (
22:28°09′25″S
1586:LinkWater
1351:Southedge
1240:Teemburra
1215:Fairbairn
1155:Lenthalls
1113:Boondooma
1037:Coolmunda
1009:Wyaralong
904:Bromelton
899:Bill Gunn
865:by region
785:1 January
644:5 January
614:30 August
430:1 January
187:Worongary
160:Coombabah
1500:SunWater
1495:seqwater
1283:Kinchant
1273:Eungella
1235:Number 7
1225:Kroombit
1170:Paradise
1047:Glenlyon
1027:Connolly
1004:Wivenhoe
989:Somerset
959:Moogerah
919:Enoggera
884:Atkinson
779:Archived
752:Archived
697:Archived
665:Archived
638:Archived
576:Archived
572:ABC News
546:Archived
542:ABC News
484:Archived
424:Archived
359:See also
303:Wivenhoe
268:Seqwater
253:Marcoola
97:Seqwater
1642:Commons
1410:Kidston
1393:Corella
1303:Solomon
1210:Callide
1118:Borumba
221:Defects
156:Pimpama
71:Bilinga
1288:Paluma
1263:Bamboo
1180:Wuruma
1175:Placer
1108:Boobir
1052:Leslie
954:Maroon
249:Lytton
234:Awards
149:Cardno
1123:Cania
1032:Cooby
999:Wappa
974:Poona
934:Hinze
517:(PDF)
77:, in
1331:Ibis
859:and
857:Dams
787:2021
760:2016
727:2016
705:2010
673:2016
646:2021
616:2009
584:2016
554:2016
524:2016
492:2016
432:2021
309:and
147:and
118:The
57:The
841:in
255:or
185:at
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