Desalination Power Goes Underground

Underground power lines were chosen rather than overhead power lines to address concerns of the local community. Underground power lines will have the least impact on landowners, farmers and local people living and working in the area.

The underground power cable will run alongside the pipeline which will transfer desalinated water to Melbourne’s water storages. The power cable diverts near Clyde North and travels along an existing electricity easement to the Cranbourne Terminal Station.

Conduit for the power cable is laid in a trench with thermal backfill and the power cable is pulled through in 1.2 km lengths.

The power cable has been manufactured by Olex in Tottenham, the conduit is being supplied by Sunshine-based Vinidex and thermal backfill is coming from Boral quarries at Cranbourne and Grantville.

AGL has also started construction on the Oaklands Hill Wind Farm in western Victoria, which will contribute to the renewable energy offsets for the desalination project. AGL is providing fixed price electricity and renewable energy under a 30-year contract.

Major contracts have been awarded to Victorian companies such as Tyco Water ($150 million to manufacture steel pipes) and One Steel ($14 million) and Page Steel ($7 million) for steel fabrication.

Closer to the plant site, Donmix from Wonthaggi and partner Barro Group won a $17 million contract for concrete supply and RTL Morwell has been awarded a $10 million earthworks contract.