Why the Gold Coast’s desalination plant for Tugun residents just adds salt to the wound

THE desalination plant was supposed to future proof the Gold Coast for its water needs, but a local member says the water pumped out is going everywhere but the Gold Coast.

THE desalination plant built as a back-up for a drought-stricken Gold Coast is yet to deliver for residents as water gets supplied north to Brisbane and Ipswich.

The State Opposition has accused the Government of hiding the real cost, with water from the $1.2 billion Tugun plant at least seven times more expensive than being piped from water treatment plants.

Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey has sought costings as the Tugun facility was ramped up for three months during an upgrade to the Mount Crosby water treatment plant.

The Gold Coast Desalination plant at Tugun.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said Tugun would produce between 4400 to 5700 megalitres of drinking water, which was the equivalent of 25 per cent of Brisbane and Ipswich’s daily supply.

INSIDE THE COAST DESALINATION PLANT

“We are now using the Tugun desalination plant more and more and not just for flood resilience, but routinely to deliver water during peak periods or when other parts of the grid are undergoing maintenance,” he said.

“In fact, probably a third to a half of the glass of water that you have now is from the Tugun desalination plant as Mount Crosby undergoes some remedial work.”

Ms Stuckey was told the cost for Tugun was $800 per megalitre of water during continuous production, including chemicals, energy and waste disposal.

Outside the plant at Tugun. Photo: Steve Holland

That compared to $123 per megalitre at conventional treatment plants drawing water from rivers and dams.

Five years ago at Estimates the LNP, while in government, warned of a cost blowout and provided much different figures, with the costing per megalitre $256 for Seqwater and $4881 for Tugun — 19 times more.

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“The big question is what are the non-continuous costs. It’s not apples for apples. One costs a hell of a lot more money. What are they trying to hide?” Ms Stuckey said.

The desalination plant was selected by the council for the southern end of the city in 2004 to protect water supply at a time when the state was in drought. The Beattie government later became a partner, linking the desalination plant and Gold Coast dams to the southeast Queensland water grid to secure water during shortages.

Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey asking questions about the desalination plant. Photo by Richard Gosling

But the desalination plant had yet to benefit the Gold Coast, Ms Stuckey said.

“My concern is the whole of the disruption when building it, the damage to homes. The salt in the wound is the water is going out to southeast Queensland,” she said.

A Queensland Competition Authority review shows the Government had budgeted $4.2 million for the desalination plant along with the recycled water scheme, on top of regular operations to meet changes in the next 10 years.

But the Tugun plant was forecast only to provide on average 504 megalitres annually out of more than 307,000 produced by all the grid’s treatment plants.

The minister’s office rejected Ms Stuckey’s criticisms, saying Coast had benefited from Tugun water.

Aerial of the desalination plant.

“In the past two years, the Gold Coast desalination plant has increased production seven times, four times to supplement Gold Coast water supply when either the Molendinar or Mudgeeraba water treatment plants were shut down for maintenance, or due to Cyclone Debbie,” the spokesperson said.

“The desal plant has been treating water for Brisbane and Ipswich since May while Mount Crosby treatment plant is shut down. This is an example of the importance of the SEQ water grid in maintaining supply for all of SEQ.”

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Under a pricing regimen to pay off the grid, Coast residents will be slugged about $17 a year during the next three years. Sunshine Coast and Noosa residents must pay an extra $27 a year.

Dr Lynham, ruling out massive price hikes, told Estimates: “The SEQ bulk water price ensures customers will have safe and reliable drinking water. It means that no matter what the weather does, you can turn on the tap and have drinking water.

“The independent QCA made recommendations for the price path for bulk water pricing and the Government made a decision that would smooth the price increase for customers over three years.

“The facts are that price increases were necessary to pay off price path debt — a price path previously supported by the LNP — and a lower demand for water.

“It is entirely fair that customers within the grid pay an equitable share of the costs for that water security. This price path will bring a sense of fairness to water bills.”