Victorian Desalination

The VDP, located at Wonthaggi in Victoria, will be the Australia’s largest desalination plant supplying up to 150 gigalitres of water per year which is approximately one third of Melbourne’s water requirements.

Project Details

The plant can be expanded to 200 gigalitres per year. Two Herrenknecht 4.75 metre diameter mix shield

TBMs have been selected to construct the twin tunnels which are 1200 metres and 1750 metres in length. Local school children have named the TBMs “Wonthaggi Maggie” and “Rocking Ruby”..

Tunnelling commenced in August 2010 and is expected to be completed by August 2011 with a plant commissioning in December 2011. On completion the site will be replanted with 3.5 million trees and plants.

Outcomes

The tunnel constructor is Thiess Tunnelling and the projected has been costed at $4 billion.