Southern Seawater Desalination Plant opened three months early (Video)

Water Minister Bill Marmion today officially opened the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (SSDP) three months ahead of schedule and within the $955million budget.

The plant, near Binningup in the State's south, will provide up to 50 billion litres of freshwater into the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS) each year.

"This breaks a long tradition of reliance on our dams and groundwater supplies, which have been suffering due to lower than average rainfall," Mr Marmion said.

"The plant has already started supplying water into the IWSS and will reach its full capacity within about a year."

The focus on site has now shifted to the plant expansion, recently announced by the Liberal-National Government, which will see the capacity double from 50 billion litres to 100 billion litres a year, by the summer of 2012-13.

"Construction of the SSDP and its associated integration works has been the largest and most complex infrastructure project the Water Corporation has ever delivered," the Minister said.

"It is a great testament to everyone involved that the project ran so smoothly and the plant itself could be built in as little as 18 months.  It is proof that major construction projects can be delivered on time and on budget in this State, even with the unprecedented levels of activity under way in the resources sector."

Mr Marmion acknowledged the involvement of the Myalup and Binningup communities and thanked them for their involvement in the project.  He also acknowledged the excellent work which had been put into protecting the environment to ensure the plant had minimal impact on its surroundings.

"A vegetated corridor has been built to allow possums to move across the fenced site and considerable attention was also paid to the protection of whales and dolphins," he said.

The Minister said the State Government was continuing to invest in securing future water supplies, but every Western Australian had a role to play in conserving the precious resource.

"Every drop we save today means we have more in the bank for the future, and this also keeps the cost of water affordable," he said.

Minister's office  - 9220 5000

Video link