The pipeline will connect the $A3.1 billion desalination plant to be located at Wonthaggi, to Melbourne’s water supply system. The pipeline will transport treated water from the plant to the Cardinia and Silvan Reservoirs and augment water supplies at Melbourne, Geelong, Westernport and South Gippsland, with further pipelines being built to give these areas access to the water.

The pipeline will be made up of 6,200 pipes, and the underground power supply will be located within the same easement for approximately 78 km, before diverging near Thompsons Road, located in Clyde North. The pipeline will then travel a further 6 km to connect with the Melbourne water network at Berwick, while the power line continues along an existing electricity easement to Cranbourne.

While inspecting the pipeline construction site, Victorian Minister for Water Tim Holding (pictured) said that the AquaSure consortium – consisting of Thiess, Suez Environmental, Degremont and Macquarie Capital Group – has recruited more than 500 workers to date, who are expected to begin working on the project by March 2010.

Meanwhile, construction on the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant is progressing. Building foundations have been poured and more than 900,000 cubic metres of earth has been excavated. The earth will be used to create new dunes on the site for a new coastal park and revegetation program in the area.

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Construction of the desalination plant and pipeline are expected to be completed in 2011, increasing Victoria's water supply by 150 billion litres and meeting approximately one-third of Melbourne's annual water needs.