Work starts on Victoria's Desalination Plant

Around 1.1 million cubic metres of earth will be excavated – using five heavy excavators, 13 dump trucks and a number of dozers, graders and rollers.

The ‘spoil’ that is being excavated will remain on site to create a series of dunes to act as sound and visual barriers during construction and operation of the project.

These initial works include excavation of the plant building site and new wetlands, construction of access roads and hardstand areas.

More than 65 jobs have been created onsite already as part of the earthworks and AquaSure expects to have 200 people working on site by Christmas.

Morwell‑based company RTL has been awarded a $10 million contract to undertake the majority of earthworks on site.

Earthworks were started following the approval of an Environment Management Plan and certification by the Independent Reviewer and Environmental Auditor.

AquaSure, consisting of Suez Environnement, Degrémont, Thiess and Macquarie Capital Group, was awarded the tender for the project in July. This includes construction and operation of the desalination plant, an 84-kilometre transfer pipeline, plus the construction of underground power and sourcing renewable energy.