Construction of the Eyre Peninsula’s new desalination plant at Billy Lights Point is continuing, with significant work completed as part of early works at the site.
Commencing in February, the scope of early works included the removal of around 13 tonnes of rubbish, the removal of vegetation on the desalination plant site to prepare for construction, the installation of temporary construction site huts, and the creation of a new vehicle entrance road to the plant site off St Andrews Drive.
SA Water’s Acting General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure, Peter Seltsikas, said further early works will continue over the coming weeks.
“This is a critically important project for the region, and it is exciting to see positive progress being made on-site,” Seltsikas said. “Crews have so far cleared around half of the vegetation on-site, with local residents and people travelling on St Andrews Drive now able to see a visible change at the site’s new entrance.
“We have relocated more than 200 hollow tree logs from the Billy Lights Point site to land at Uley South, which will be used to establish vital habitat stacks for the region’s animals and birdlife who call the area home.
“This forms part of a broader initiative to boost biodiversity and significantly increase native vegetation across the borefield area.
“The site is also now entirely fenced ahead of major construction commencing, with more than 1400 metres of temporary fencing now installed around the perimeter of the plant site’s boundary.
“Progress is also being made on the future construction of the large transfer pipeline connecting the new plant to the region’s existing water network, with the pipeline’s easement now safely cleared of rubbish.
“Following these early works, we look forward to starting large-scale construction on-site shortly after.”
Additionally, SA Power Networks will soon commence work to connect the new desalination plant site to the local electricity network, which is expected to take up to five months to complete.
“This includes installing new underground cables from the substation on Sleaford Terrace to the intersection of Stamford Terrace and Windsor Avenue following a route along Tennant Street and Verran Terrace, and new overhead powerlines from the Stamford Terrace and Windsor Avenue intersection to the new desalination plant,” Seltsikas said.
“Additionally, a small section of underground cabling will be undertaken along St Andrews Drive, near the boat ramp.
“For the safety of on-site crews, localised traffic management will be in place for the duration of these works, and we thank everyone for their patience while SA Power Networks work to deliver this important element of our project.”
For more information on the Eyre Peninsula’s new desalination plant, visit watertalks.sawater.com.au
