Desalination plant output to double to cater for Sydney’s housing expansion
With tens of thousands of new homes set to be built in Sydney, the NSW government is looking to double the size of the city’s desalination plant to guarantee water supply.
NSW
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The capacity of the Kurnell desalination plant may need to be doubled as the state government moves to ensure there is enough drinking water for the tens of thousands of new homes to be built in Sydney.
With Sydney having already come close to running out of water during times of extreme drought, the government will investigate the desalination plant option, because it needs to ensure supplies are adequate as the city grows.
The plant supplies 15 per cent of the city’s water — about 250 megalitres a day — with the remaining 85 per cent dependent on rainfall.
Upgrading the plant to lessen the reliance on rainfall could increase its contribution to 30 per cent, or 500 megalitres a day.
The investigations will focus on assessing if expanding the desalination plant at Kurnell to add another 90 billion litres a year to the network would be the best and most cost-effective option.
Water Minister Rose Jackson said the first stage of planning would be finalised next year.
“This is about safeguarding Sydney’s water future so it can continue to meet demands in a changing climate,” she said.
“We’re kicking housing expansion in Greater Sydney into high gear, and to ensure this growth is sustainable we must also expand vital water infrastructure.
“In a drought, Warragamba Dam can go from full to empty in five years, so it is crucial that we actively explore options to expand our water sources which will take pressure off Sydney’s dams.”
Melbourne and Adelaide had already turned to desalination plants for nearly half their water use, Mr Jackson said.
Should an upgrade go ahead, it would be “100 per cent powered” by renewable energy, she added.
NSW is in the grip of a severe housing crisis, with shortages driving up rents and making it impossible for first-home buyers to secure a property.
The Albanese government has set a national target of 1.2 million new homes to be built over the next five years from July 2024.
As part of reaching that target, the state government will contribute as many as 75,000 homes a year for five years.
In 2019, Warragamba Dam fell to its lowest level in 15 years after little to no rain, with water capacity hitting just under 44 per cent.
The previous Coalition government put forward plans to raise the dam wall to reduce flood risks but the plan was scrapped by Labor, citing huge costs and significant environmental and heritage concerns.
It is understood it still remains off the table.
Sydney Water managing director Roch Cheroux said all options were being explored as part of the Greater Sydney Water Strategy.
“We can no longer rely on rainfall alone, so this investment allows us greater flexibility to diversify our water sources to meet Greater Sydney’s future demands,” he said.
“We have also released our first ever long-term investment plan which addresses the challenges facing Greater Sydney such as significant population growth, climate change and our own ageing infrastructure.”
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