A joint venture between Perth-based engineering group Clough and French company Suez has won a contract to build the second stage of a water recycling plant in Craigie, which is the major component of the state government’s $262 million groundwater replenishment scheme.
While the exact value of the contract was not disclosed, Water Corporation in July last year indicated it would cost about $232 million.
The entire expansion project also includes a 13-kilometre recharge pipeline extending to the north-east of the plant, and recharge sites in Wanneroo and Neerabup.
The expansion will double the capacity of the Advanced Water Recycling Plant in Craigie, enabling it to treat wastewater and recharge up to 28 billion litres of recycled water into groundwater supplies per year.
The first stage of the expansion, which brought the plant’s capacity to 14 billion litres, was completed by a joint venture between Thiess and CH2m HILL Australia for $214.6 million.
“We are delighted to receive this award from the Water Corporation,” Clough chief executive Peter Bennett said.
“Our longstanding history with Water Corp is one Clough is very proud of.
“This development is critical to Water Corp’s objective to reduce reliance on rainfall and continue to ensure every Western Australian has the water services to sustain the Western Australian lifestyle.”
Water Minister Dave Kelly said about 170 local workers would be employed on the stage 2 expansion, with about 90 per cent of work to be sub-contracted.
“The South West of our state continues to be impacted by climate change, and groundwater replenishment is a key project in the Water Corporation’s plans to secure water supplies in response to the drying climate,” he said.
“When the expansion is complete, the Groundwater Replenishment Scheme in Craigie will have the capacity to supply up to 100,000 Perth households.”
