Getting Ready for Desalinated Water - Desalinated Water Integration Project
Melbourne Water is making some changes to the water supply network so we can receive and distribute water from the new desalination plant being built in Wonthaggi.
The new desalination plant is being built for the Victorian Government by AquaSure, and construction is underway on the 84km of pipeline required to deliver the desalinated water to Melbourne.
Melbourne Water is responsible for providing a connection point for the Victorian desalination pipeline (where it finishes in Berwick) to connect to our existing water supply network and transfer the desalinated water to Cardinia and Silvan reservoirs for distribution to customers.
The Project
Melbourne Water will install new fittings to allow the Victorian Desalination Project to connect to our existing water supply network at the connection point in Berwick. The water will then be piped north through an existing water main (the Cardinia-Pearcedale transfer main), and a new 2.3km section of inlet water main will deliver the desalinated water into Cardinia Reservoir.
The desalinated water will mix with other water in Cardinia Reservoir and then be delivered to consumers in the south, south-east, Mornington Peninsula and Pakenham areas. Water will also be pumped north to Silvan Reservoir via a new pump station for delivery to other parts of our distribution network.
To complete this project, works are required in various locations including Cardinia Reservoir Park, Soldiers Road in Berwick, and along the existing Cardinia-Pearcedale pipeline.
Delivering the works
Our alliance partners John Holland, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) and Pipe and Civil have formed the Cardinia Connection Alliance with Melbourne Water to deliver the project by early 2011, in time for the completion of the desalination plant by the end of that year.
Construction is now underway.
Minimising our impact in Cardinia Reservoir Park
A new pump station, 2.3km of inlet pipeline and an inlet chute will be built in Cardinia Reservoir Park as part of this project. We are working closely with Parks Victoria to maintain public access to the park at all times but there may be occasions when quiet enjoyment of the park is affected by our construction activities.
Park users should pay particular attention to signage around construction sites and watch out for construction traffic.
- Speed limits
Throughout the project there will be an increase in heavy vehicles travelling along Cardinia Creek Road and Duffys Road. Speed limits along these roads have been reduced to ensure public safety, and we ask that all road users obey the new limits. - Walking path diversions
A minor diversion has been put in place on the Tea Tree Trail walking track that skirts the alliance’s site compound in the Observation Carpark in the north of the park. Pedestrians should keep to the marked diversion. Other temporary diversions may be needed and these will be clearly sign-posted.
Soldiers Road connection
In order for desalinated water to be delivered into the supply network, we will be constructing a connection point , which the Victorian Desalination Project will connect to, on the water main that runs underground along Soldiers Road pipetrack in Berwick.
Works to construct a new water main connection, valves and fittings is now underway.
We are working closely with Aquasure, the alliance responsible for building the Victorian Desalination Plant and Pipeline, to coordinate our work activities and minimise disruption to the local area. See map below for how our works connect into the Victorian Desalination Project.
These works will take approximately two months to complete. More information can be found in the Soldiers Road Connection Works bulletin below.
Contact us
If you require more information about this project, please telephone Melbourne Water on 131 722.
Contact us online
Downloads
- Cardinia Reservoir General Community Bulletin (PDF, 85kb)
- Cardinia Reservoir Project Update Community Bulletin (PDF, 66kb)
- Cardinia Reservoir Proposed Pipeline Alignment (PDF, 454kb)
- Connecting to the Victorian Desalination Pipeline (PDF, 203kb)
- Soldiers Road Connection Investigations Community Bulletin (PDF, 306kb)
- Soldiers Road Connection Works Community Bulletin (PDF, 356kb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 