|
|
The Gold Coast Desalination Plant has been designed to have a minimal impact on its surrounding environment. With any project of this size, there is strong interest in its operations and this section provides information on common questions and misconceptions.
The plant’s inlet tunnels are sucking in unwanted objects, including fish and toxic pink algae.
The intake structure and flow rates are designed to ensure fish and large objects do not enter the intake shaft. If small algal particles are drawn into the pipes, these would be removed by the desalination process.
While algal blooms have been known to occur on the Gold Coast in certain conditions, the species of algae identified is not known to produce compounds toxic to humans.
There is no monitoring of the water discharged into the ocean.
WaterSecure is meeting its environmental and regulatory responsibilities through its ongoing monitoring around the desalination plant’s marine structures. Independent experts from Griffith University were instrumental in setting up the rigorous water quality testing regime and analysing data. The marine monitoring programs were designed in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Resource Management and an independent third party expert.
The marine monitoring program is based on sound science and includes continuous, real-time monitoring of the quality of the brine discharged back into the ocean. The monitoring undertaken includes measurement of pH, chlorine, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, suspended solids and salinity.
Further monitoring of the marine life and sediments on the seabed is also undertaken. This is done by sampling a selection of around 60 parcels of seabed, which are then taken back to a laboratory and analysed to determine health, numbers and diversity of seabed based marine organisms.
In conjunction with this scientific program, regular visual monitoring around the marine structures is undertaken and shows marine life is abundant and diverse indicating they are unaffected by brine discharged from the desalination plant. Underwater footage shows that the marine structures are providing a habitat for a diverse variety of marine organisms, effectively creating an artificial reef.
The salty water discharged is affecting marine life.
The plant has been designed to minimise any potential impacts on marine ecology and considerable effort has been placed on ensuring the quality of the marine environment. The long-term independent marine monitoring program being undertaken at the Tugun Desalination Plant shows that the plant is operating in compliance with the environmental license conditions which have been developed to prevent environmental impacts.
Small plants and animals that live on the ocean floor are key indicators of a healthy environment because they are long-term residents - rather than moving in and out as more mobile organisms such as fish do. Results show these small plants and animals to be thriving on and around the marine structures. Underwater footage shows that the marine structures are providing a habitat for a diverse variety of marine organisms, effectively creating an artificial reef. Some of the footage can be viewed here (link to footage).
When Channel 9’s Paul Burt dived there recently, he said: “The amount of fish congregating in that area is simply amazing! There’s thousands upon thousands of fish from bait fish up to big kingfish and I even saw some big groper, tailor, bream, the list goes on. It’s full of life; there’s even soft corals down there”. |
|
|
|
|
Environmental Impact Statement studies on the project have not been conducted.
The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed an Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) report, summarising material from over 40 environmental impact assessments undertaken on each aspect of the project. This is a study very similar to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). As this research was undertaken, a formal EIS was not required under existing legislation (local, state and Commonwealth). |
|
|
|
|
|
If you have any questions not answered here or require further information please contact us on info@watersecure.com.au or 1300 366 190. | |
|
|
Caring for the environment |
|
|
WaterSecure is committed to ensuring the Gold Coast Desalination Plant meets the highest environmental standards and remains a secure and sustainable water source for South East Queensland.
Over 40 environmental studies have been completed as part of an Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) application report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – a study very similar to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The impact assessment, completed and published in December 2006, determined that under GCD Alliance's Construction and Operation Management Plans, there would be negligible environmental harm as a result of project development.
The ERA report provided the relevant environmental information and assessment to allow the EPA to clearly understand the environmental impact of the various stages and components of the desalination plant project from the early works activities to the operational phase. As part of the approved ERA assessment the following studies were conducted: |
|
|
- Acid sulphate soils
- Affected communities
- Air quality
- Dispersion modelling and marine water testing
- Bird management
- Contaminated land
- Cultural heritage
- Marine water quality
- Easement requirement
- Geographical and geotechnical
- Greenhouse gas strategy
- Groundwater land use
- Marine ecology
- Noise stormwater management
- Sustainability
- Terrestrial ecology
- Traffic study
- Vegetation management
- Visual amenity
- Marine studies
|
|
|
| As part of the project’s ERA environmental and technical investigations, significant marine investigations have been undertaken. These studies include salt water dispersion modelling studies undertaken by the GCD Alliance involving scientists from Griffith University and the NSW University of Technology and other industry experts. ‘Near and Far Field’ brine dispersion modelling was used to determine how effectively the salty water will be dispersed in local conditions and what diffuser (diffuses the salty water into the ocean) design would be needed to reduce environmental impacts. |
|
|
|
|
The amount and type of power to be used in the Gold Coast Desalination Project has been a key area of investigation.
A number of power efficiency initiatives were included in the project design.
These included: |
|
|
- Using gravity water flow systems where possible, choosing power efficient materials and maximising ergonomic efficiencies
- Applying energy recovery technology in the reverse osmosis process to decrease energy use
- Using variable speed motor pumps to ensure minimum power use
- Putting flexibility into the plant design to ensure technology advances can be retrofitted in the future
- Reducing pump energy needs by designing marine inlet and outlet tunnels to operate under gravity
- Using solar power and photovoltaic cell (solar energy) technology to power some site lighting and to heat domestic water
- Using seawater heat exchanges for cooling.
|
|
|
In August 2009 renewable energy certificates were purchased on behalf of the plant which will see the plant offset its carbon emissions for about 18 to 20 months of operations, depending on the precise operating schedule which is determined by the Water Grid Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
