Helena Water chosen to build Mundaring Water Treatment Plant

Water Minister Bill Marmion today announced that Helena Water was the preferred consortium to fund, build and operate the new Mundaring Water Treatment Plant. 

Mr Marmion said the decision to award preferred tenderer status to the consortium marks the start of the first fully fledged Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the Western Australian water industry.

Helena Water comprises the Royal Bank of Scotland, Acciona Agua, United Utilities and Brookfield Multiplex. 

"The consortium will begin work in a few months and build a plant that ensures water quality standards will be met for customers of the Water Corporation's Goldfields pipeline into the future," the Minister said.

"The consortia, which was one of two shortlisted for the competitive process by the Water Corporation, brings together a group with extensive experience and success in delivering various water environmental infrastructure projects and a very strong balance sheet.

"Helena Water will fund and build the new plant which will be commissioned in mid- 2013. They will then run it for 35 years after which it will be handed back to the Water Corporation in full operating condition.

"It is at the heart of major upgrade works in Mundaring and involves the construction of the new water treatment plant itself, a pump station and various pipelines.

"Water from the plant will be produced to standards specified by the corporation who will then use it for the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme."

Mr Marmion said the decision to allow full private industry involvement in a big water supply project was a logical addition to the Water Corporation's well established and nationally respected Alliance partnerships.

These have resulted in several major projects, including the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant and the soon to be commissioned Southern Seawater Desalination Plant, being built and operated by private industry in an alliance with the corporation.

"We are fully satisfied that a public private partnership in which private industry funds, designs, constructs and operates this plant is the right model to deliver this crucial water infrastructure project," the Minister said.

The contract will be finalised in about four months when all terms and conditions were agreed between the consortium and the corporation. 

"The decision to award preferred tender status now is to make sure that Helena Water remains in the best possible position to commission the new plant on time in mid-2013," Mr Marmion said.

"There are still some outstanding planning approvals but it is anticipated that construction will begin as soon as the contract is awarded.

"More than 95 per cent of the Water Corporation's multi-billion dollar capital works program over the next few years will be delivered by the private sector."

The Minister also confirmed that while Helena Water would become a new business in the Mundaring area, the Water Corporation would continue to be the point of contact for the local community throughout the life of the new plant.