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List of desalination plants in Australia facts for kids

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As a result of the water supply crisis during the severe 1997–2009 drought State governments around Australia began building desalination plants that purify seawater using reverse osmosis technology. Many of these plants have included in their overall cost the building of renewable energy sources such as wind farms.

Australia's first working desalination plant was the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant that was completed in November 2006. A second plant on the Gold Coast began operations in February 2009. The Kurnell Desalination Plant in Sydney was opened on 28 January 2010.

List of desalination plants

Desalination plants in use

Plant Capacity (Megalitres per day) Capacity (Gigalitres per year) Percent of water supply - at full capacity Current status Location Completion
Gold Coast Desalination Plant 125 45 27% of South East Queensland Operating at a minimum production level Queensland (Tugun) 28°09′25″S 153°29′49″E / 28.157°S 153.497°E / -28.157; 153.497 2009
Perth Seawater Desalination Plant 130 48 17% of Perth Provides 45 gigalites a year Western Australia (Kwinana) 32°12′11″S 115°46′23″E / 32.203°S 115.773°E / -32.203; 115.773 2006
Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (Binningup) 270 100 20% of Perth Western Australia (Binningup) 33°07′44″S 115°42′11″E / 33.129°S 115.703°E / -33.129; 115.703 2012
Sydney Desalination Plant 250 84 New South Wales (Kurnell) 34.02475°S 151.205136°E 2012
Adelaide Desalination Plant 300 100 50% of Adelaide Operating at a minimum production level supplying 10% of SA water South Australia (Port Stanvac) 35°05′49″S 138°29′02″E / 35.097°S 138.484°E / -35.097; 138.484 2012
Victorian Desalination Plant 410 150 33% of Melbourne Victoria (Dalyston)

38°35′16.8″S 145°31′33.6″E

2012

Smaller desalination plants

State Location Capacity (Megalitres per day) Status Year

Commissioned

Western Australia

Albany (Cape Riche) 34 Approved 2012
Barrow Island (Gorgon gas project) 7 Operating
Burrup (West Pilbara) 16.4 Operating
Cape Preston (Sino Iron project, Pilbara) 140 Operating
Esperance 45 Proposed 2011
Garden Island (Navy Base) Unknown Q1 2014
Karratha 175 Planning
Long Island (Houtman Abrolhos) 0.017 Operating
Onslow (Wheatstone LNG) 11
Rottnest Island 0.55 Operating
Undecided 150 Planning

South Australia

Hawker 0.44 Operating
Kangaroo Head (Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island) 0.3 Operating
Leigh Creek not known Operating
Marion Bay 0.06 Operating 2008
Port Augusta (Sundrop Farms) 8 Operating
Sleaford Bay 8 Planning 2018/19
Whyalla Steelworks (Arrium) 4 Operating

Queensland

Green Island 0.06 Operating
Hamilton Island 1.5 Operating
Hook Island ? Operating
Long Island (Club Crocodile) 0.12 Operating
St. Agnes / 1770 (Gladstone) 1.5 Operating 2010

Offshore

Christmas Island 4.5 Operating
Home Island (Cocos & Keeling Islands) 0.35 Under construction 2014
Timor Sea (Ichthys LNG) 0.5 ?

Secondary desalination plants, citations

Desalination plants in development or cancelled

Plant Capacity (Megalitres per day) Location Notes
Anketell Point (Pilbara) 9.6 Western Australia Approved 2013 then cancelled
Bribie Island unknown Queensland In dispute
North Stradbroke Island unknown Queensland In dispute
Onslow Desalination Plant 2 Western Australia
Point Lowly / Port Bonython (BHP) 280 South Australia Approved 2011, not constructed
Point Paterson Desalination Plant 15 South Australia Project cancelled
Port Spencer / Lipson Cove (Centrex Metals) 14-55 South Australia Project cancelled
Sunshine Coast unknown Queensland Suggested after 2028
Toukley 20 New South Wales Approved 2007, construction deferred

See also

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