Qld Government to narrow down potential SEQ desalination sites
The Queensland Government is to whittle down its list of potential sites to build desalination plants in South East Queensland from six possible locations to a shortlist of two or three sites.
The draft SEQ Water strategy earlier this year identified sites at Marcoola, Kawana, Bribie Island, Lytton, North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island for the potential construction of desalination plants to boost the region’s water supplies, if this is required in future.
The State Government has announced the commencement of investigations of the sites by environmental experts, engineers and planners, which will help the government to determine the two or three priority sites for the future development of a desalination plant.
The Queensland Government expects to finalise the assessment of the six sites by mid-2009, based on advice from the Queensland Water Commission.
The draft SEQ Water Strategy indicated there is not expected to be a need for any new water supplies for the region, including desalination plants, for at least twenty years.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says conducting the investigations now means that if the time comes when the construction of the plants becomes necessary, the process to do so will be quicker, cheaper and simpler.
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