Work has started on Hunter Water’s biggest infrastructure project since the upgrade of Grahamstown Dam almost two decades ago.
Managing director Darren Cleary joined Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley and Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz this week to turn the first sod on the $530 million Belmont Desalination Plant, due to be operational in 2028.
Its construction is a crucial step in securing the Lower Hunter’s water supply, adding up to 30 million litres per day of rainfall-independent drinking water capacity to the system, or about 15% of the region’s average daily needs.
“It’s a priority project… and we are pleased to be working alongside our construction partner John Holland to get the work done,” Mr Cleary said.
“Building a 30-megalitre per day desalination plant allows us to address the region’s drought risk as quickly as possible and provide a reliable minimum supply of safe drinking water for our customers, even in times of drought.”
Ms Catley said having a secure source was vital moving forward.
“This project will shore up a quality water supply for our growing region,” she explained.
“There has been strong community calls for a reliable, safe and sustainable resource… and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.
“I am pleased the construction phase will support many local jobs over the next four years and, once operational, the plant will be powered by renewable energy.”
Cr Shultz welcomed the investment in Lake Macquarie, too.
“The construction and operation of the Belmont Desalination Plant is a significant outlay in our city,” he said.
“I am especially pleased that Hunter Water will be allocating $400,000 to develop shared path connections for pedestrians and cyclists near the site.”
Funding for the Belmont Desalination Plant has been incorporated in Hunter Water’s pricing submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which is currently under assessment.
New charges begin from 1 July.
For more news stories:
- Critically-endangered Hunter bushland bulldozed for industrial estate
- Labor councillors determined to fight for Newcastle’s green corridor
- First major switch for Newcastle Inner City Bypass
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
