Desalt plant

Desalination Plant Timeline

  • Government announces plan to build desalination plan.

    The Victorian Government announces its intention to develop a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant on the coast near Wonthaggi. The plant is explained to be part of a water plan marketed as Our Water Our Future.
  • Preparations for an Environment Effects Statement (EES) begin

    The Minister for Planning for the Victorian Government determines that the project would require assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 and preparations for an Environment Effects Statement (EES) begin.
  • Compulsory acquisition notices issued to the residents of the proposed site

  • the Federal Government determines that the project will have to require approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

  • Period: to

    draft scoping requirements for the EES placed on public exhibition

    draft scoping requirements for the EES placed on public exhibition
  • final scoping requirements for the EES issued.

  • 100 m (330 ft) of coastline is landscaped to alter the flow of Powlett River.

  • Justice Heerey awards costs to the Federal and State Governments a result of the action – Your Water Your Say v Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts & Anor; Federal Court Proceeding VID188/2008.

  • The plant is addressed during the Climate Emergency Rally at various locations in Melbourne.

  • Winning bidder for construction announced.

  • Period: to

    Environment Effects Statement (EES) released for public comment by the State Government, community given 5 weeks to submit responses to the 1,600-page report.

  • Planning Minister, Justin Madden, approved a planning scheme amendment to allow for a pilot desalination plant to come into effect on 17 January

  • Construction commenced.

  • First sections of the new pipeline are laid.

  • Production and related operations commenced at end of year

  • 'zero water order' for financial year 2012 - 2013 and plant immediately put into standby mode