The Aus$ 3.1 billion (US$2.2 billion) seawater desalination plant for Melbourne, Australia, passed a significant hurdle on 9 January 2009 when Victoria state’s planning minister, Justin Madden, accepted all but one of the 42 recommendations of an independent inquiry into the project.
Madden also released the inquiry’s report, which included the following recommendations:
Two consortia led by Degremont and Veolia are shortlisted for the project which will will produce 150-200 million m³/y. Preliminary construction work is already under way and the successful contractor will be chosen later in 2009 with the first water from the plant due to be supplied at the end of 2011.
The relevant documents can be found on the Victoria government’s website.