Gold Coast desalination project

The Gold Coast desalination project is a proposed desalination plant to supply water to the Gold Coast and South East Queensland to be built at Tugun.

After investigations by the Gold Coast Desalination Alliance the Gold Coast City Council chose Tugun as the most suitable site for the desalination plant. The cost is expected to be in excess of $1 billion. The GCD Alliance consists of Veolia Water, John Holland Group and Gold Coast Water.

Initial plans were for a $260 million plant producing 55 megalitres a day. The State Government then contributed $869 million to increase the output to 125 megalitres a day to share with the rest of southeast Queensland. An additional increase in output to 167 megalitres a day has been approved and this will maximise the pipe capacity.

The Tugun site
Tugun was selected as the preferred site for the proposed plant because:
 * It has the least environmental impact when compared to the other short listed sites
 * It has the lowest comparative net present value cost
 * It is the only site to which sufficient power can be provided to enable the facility to be operational within the required timeframe
 * It is aligned with community values and expectations – community consultation conducted late last year highlighted that environmental impacts and cost were the most important issues when considering the location of the proposed plant
 * It is compatible with surrounding land use
 * It is within close proximity to the ocean and hence requires the shortest intake and outtake pipelines of the three site options

Opposition from Queensland Conservation Council
On 27 February 2006 the Queensland Conservation Council "called on the Beattie Government to drop any support for a desalination plant on the Gold Coast, due to the significant increase in greenhouse pollution that will be created by the plant's excessive electricity demands." They argue that "the Gold Coast City Council is attempting to fast track a 110 Megalitre desalination plant at Tugun to begin operation within the next 2 years."

Queensland Conservation Council note that "The Gold Coast plant will take about as much electricity from the grid as 20 000 homes." They go on to note that "South East Queensland may need a new coal fired power station just keep the plant operating" but it also seems likely that the government may turn to the nuclear option as the ABC report in June 2006 noted that "An engineering expert says nuclear power is the best long-term way to run desalination plants in Australia."

Mr Henry Boer from the Queensland Conservation Council notes that "A desalination plant on the Gold Coast will release over 150,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere each and every year. This will be one of the single biggest greenhouse polluters in the Gold Coast region" said Mr Boer.

Mr Boer continued "With temperatures on the rise in South East Queensland, the Government should be developing greenhouse-friendly water supply options. A desalination plant will only worsen climate change, such as reduced average rainfall across South East Queensland."

"Climate change is leading to water scarcity, but the Gold Coast City Council wants to build a desalination plant that will significantly increase carbon dioxide emissions."

"Rainwater tanks and recycling are sustainable, greenhouse friendly water solutions for the Gold Coast. The Government of 'The Smart State' should support these options."

Source: http://www.qccqld.org.au/media_releases/2006/270206.htm

Gold Coast Community Opposition to Desalination
On 6 December 2006 approximately 120 residents filled the Tugun Community Centre on the Gold Coast to voice their opposition to the desalination plant. It was the first major display of community anger since the $1.1 billion project was rushed through the approvals process by the State Government and the Gold Coast City Council.

Present at the meeting was Mayor Ron Clarke, who was shouted down with cries of 'give us a break' and 'come on, Ron' during the fiery public meeting.

While Cr Clarke put in an appearance, Gold Coast Water representatives and the council's water committee chairwoman Cr Daphne McDonald did not attend the meeting.

Cr Clarke admitted that desalination was not an ideal option, but argued that unless an alternative source of bulk water could be found, it was the only option available. This frank admission sparked an angry outcry from residents and opponents who said it was an expensive and environmentally devastating option that would also cause the price of water to skyrocket.

New South Wales Greens MP Ian Cohen told the meeting that it was not too late to stop the project, citing his experience as a member of a parliamentary committee into sustainable water sources that ultimately led to the stopping of a desalination plant in Sydney.

The report can be downloaded here.

"It's expensive, it uses huge amounts of electricity and pumps out massive amounts of greenhouse gases. There are better options. You can buy a lot of rainwater tanks for $1 billion" said Mr Cohen.

Hastings Point, NSW marine biologist Ted Brambley said the plant would also harm the marine environment by reducing plankton and increasing salinity.

Irene Wareing, spokeswoman for the Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council (GECKO), demanded an independent environmental study, saying the only reports so far had been prepared by the consortium building the plant. GECKO argues that there was (and is) not enough community consultation surrounding plans for a desalination plant.

Protest organiser and Tugun resident, Inge Light, predicted desalination would become an explosive issue for the Gold Coast. She believes the plant is being steamrolled through the community.

"It's been a hush-hush project but the truth is starting to come out and a lot of people are worried ... we're wondering why the billion dollars isn't being used for more practical and more sensible water solutions such as stormwater harvesting and rainwater tanks and water recycling" said Ms Light.

Source: 07Dec06 Gold Coast Bulletin "Residents voice anger over desal" and "Green group raises desal plant worries".