desal works in yarra ranges

report from the roundtable – 11 Aug

Just recently I learnt that pipe works for the Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi would be coming through a small part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges in order to deliver desalinated water to Cardinia Reservoir.

Part of the installation includes some removal of vegetation within the Lyster Ward. Melbourne Water met with the Shire to ask if we were okay about this. Given the Minister will be the responsible authority in relation to this project, council’s opinion is a moot point, however I think it is important that council articulate community concerns about the desalination project.

I am not remotely happy about works in Yarra Ranges or anywhere else for that matter.

Me, near the proposed Cardinia Desalination Integration Works in Yarra Ranges, Narre Warren East.

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The desalination plant will generate 1.4million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during construction and 1.2million tonnes of emissions during operation. The government has said that the 1.2million would be offset, however nothing has been said about the 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions generated from decomposing waste from the plant.

This desalination plant will intake 380,000 small marine organisms per second whilst discharging 8,800 litres of brine per second. This is an environmental disaster for this part of Victoria’s coastline. We can say goodbye to the tourism industry in the region, no one wants to visit a dead sea.

The works will be completed at the end of Duffy's Road, benefits offered for the loss of vegetation include sealing Duffy's Road, I'm not convinced in the long run if that's enough of a benefit.

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There are much better options for securing water for Melbourne, it rains more on Melbourne than what Melburnians consume. Tanks, stormwater capture, mandatory water sensitive urban design, recycling and upgrading aging infrastructure are the way forward for securing Melbourne’s water.

A recent 2007 study found “rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient that desalinations plants….Most Australian houses are suitable for a rainwater tanks…in Melbourne 72% of existing houses have potential for a rainwater tank….fewer than 6% of the houses in Melbourne have water tanks.”

At Tuesday night’s council meeting I urged my colleagues to join me in articulating concerns about the construction of the desalination plant, however it was not supported by the majority of councillors.

Advocating for better water solutions for our community is not new territory for Yarra Ranges, our stance on the North South Pipeline and logging in Melbourne’s water catchments both highlighted key issues of concern with water policy for Victoria.

Desalination is not a solution, just a lot of pollution.

out of the blue into the red

Friends of the Earth and Watershed Victoria are supporting a free screening of Out of the Blue into the Red, a documentary about the opposition to the Victorian Government's decision to build a desalination plant in Wonthaggi. It's a good opportunity to learn about the social, environmental and economic issues surrounding this decision.



Click on image for more details










Where: ACMI - Federation Square
When: Sunday 24th May at 2:45pm
How much: FREE