Major contract award for $2.8bn Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant to create local jobs

A new major contract to design, build and operate the $2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP) in Western Australia has been awarded, confirming the Northern Water Partnership (NWP) as the consortium to deliver Stage 1 of the project. 

The Northern Water Partnership consists of Acciona Agua Australia, Acciona Construction and Jacobs Group Australia. 

The delivery of Perth’s next large-scale seawater desalination plant will ensure the creation of 1,300 jobs, including work for Western Australian apprentices and trainees. 

“Awarding this contract represents another key milestone in this major project which will future proof water supply for more than 2.5 million Western Australians. 

“As the Minister for Training and Workforce Development, it’s pleasing to see Water Corporation prioritise employment and development opportunities for apprentices and trainees, to grow the future workforce,” Water Minister Simone McGurk said. 

Approximately $950 million of the total contract value is expected to be spent on local Western Australian contractors and subcontractors, with up to $59 million going towards Aboriginal businesses. 

This contract award is also expected to provide employment and development opportunities for at least 155 apprentices and trainees – which represents 11.5 per cent of the total workforce. 

The project will see a peak onsite workforce of up to 600, which will be supported by a further 200 office-based roles. 

“This is a big opportunity for our State’s construction sector, with $950 million to be spent with local contractors and subcontractors. 

“Our Government is investing in a climate-resilient, secure water supply for more than 2.5 million Western Australians,” Butler MLA John Quigley said. 

Key features of the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant include: 

• A 50 billion litres per year desalination plant within the Alkimos Water Precinct, with the possibility of a future 50 billion litres per year expansion 
• An ocean intake pipeline below the seabed that brings seawater into the plant 
• An ocean discharge pipeline below the seabed that safely takes brine (salty water) away from the plant 
• A 33.5-kilometre pipeline to convey drinking water produced by the plant to Wanneroo Reservoir for supply into Perth’s Integrated Water Supply Scheme 
• Built-up, vegetated sand dunes on the western side of Alkimos Water Precinct. It will be incorporated into the existing natural dune system to minimise potential visual and noise impacts from the plant 
• Provision for a 4.9 billion litres per year groundwater treatment plant and local bores 

The initial 50 billion litres of climate-resilient drinking water will be delivered when Stage 1 of the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant is commissioned in 2028. 

In addition to design and construction works, Northern Water Partnership will also operate the desalination plant under an alliance model with Water Corporation for at least 10 years from 2028. This alliance is going to be known as the Alkimos Seawater Alliance. 

Site preparation works commenced late last year and it involved moving almost half a million cubic metres of soil. The work was carried out by Georgiou Group. You can read more about it here. 

Construction on the plant and associated network integration will begin in mid-2024. 

The Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant will have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions during its construction and operation. This will allow Water Corportation to reduce its groundwater abstraction by 30 billion litres annually, ultimately helping preserve healthy wetlands, parks, forests and public open spaces in Perth’s north. 

The project has secured environmental approval from both Commonwealth and State regulators, and it will be carefully designed to protect the surrounding environment. 

Source: Government of Western Australia – Media Statements; Water Corporation (1, 2, 3)