The Queensland government has announced plans to construct a multibillion-dollar desalination plant in south-east Queensland by 2035 as a crucial element of a new 30-year water security strategy, reports Brisbane Times.
As part of this strategy, there will be an expansion of an existing Gold Coast facility by 2033. Additionally, the Wyaralong Dam in the Scenic Rim will be linked to the water grid, with a new water treatment plant slated for construction by 2033.
According to The Guardian, Glenn Butcher, the water minister, confirmed the cost of the plant, estimated at between $4 billion and $8 billion.
The significance of this initiative is highlighted by warnings of an impending dry summer. Combined dam levels in the south-east have dipped below 69 per cent, and a draft government strategy has acknowledged the pressing reality of increasingly severe weather extremes and climate impacts.
These concerns echo the urgent calls from Seqwater, the government-owned regional water authority, emphasizing the necessity for new water sources to accommodate the growing population.
Brisbane LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has seized upon these warnings, sparking a longstanding debate about the anticipated multibillion-dollar costs of the new plant compared to the utilization of recycled water in drinking supplies.
The government's announcement on Tuesday has shifted the discourse around the option of recycled drinking water, described as an extreme drought "insurance policy" by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, beyond the October 2024 state election.
In her statement, Palaszczuk mentioned that the location of the new desalination plant—speculated to be on the Sunshine Coast—will not be confirmed until after a comprehensive business case is prepared ahead of the 2025 budget. She emphasized that this plan strongly advocates for desalination due to its direct integration into the water grid, minimizing losses to evaporation during droughts.
"Desalination contributes to a more significant flood buffer in Wivenhoe Dam at the end of a drought, ensuring water security even during flood events when water treatment plants may be impacted by debris," Palaszczuk informed the parliament.
However, critics have said that the state’s existing 59 gigalitre Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme is being left largely dormant, with no immediate plans to recommission the $2.7bn project.
The Western Corridor scheme stands as Australia's largest recycled water infrastructure. Put under care and maintenance during the Newman government, it has not yet supplied water for household use but finds application in certain commercial and industrial contexts.
According to the Guardian, the state had seriously contemplated expanding the recycled water scheme, with some senior employees of Seqwater advocating for this expansion.
Palaszczuk, speaking to the media, emphasized the necessity for water from both recycling and desalination, without explicitly confirming if this decision was advised by Seqwater.
"This entails comprehensive planning for the future. It's not an 'either-or' situation. We'll require both," she stated.
Furthermore, the government is exploring an upgrade to its existing desalination plant on the Gold Coast.
The state government intends to explore optimizing the recycled scheme to cater to industry and agricultural customers, thereby reducing the consumption of potable water for non-domestic purposes.
Additionally, the recycled scheme will be maintained as a contingency potable water option in the event of a severe drought.
