The nation's first large scale desalination plant for public water consumption was recognized as winner of the Western Australia Project Management Achievement Awards in Perth.
The nation's first large scale desalination plant for public water consumption was recognized as winner of the Western Australia Project Management Achievement Awards in Perth.
The $387 million project was completed on schedule and provides up to 17 percent of Perth's water supply.
The Australian Institute of Project Management organises the annual PMAA to recognise excellence in project management in each State.
Full announcement pasted below:
A ground-breaking water supply development project that has placed Western Australia at the forefront of water supply planning, won the WA Project Management Achievement Awards (PMAA) in Perth last night.
According to the Water Corporation of Western Australia, the project is the nation's first large-scale desalination facility for public water consumption and provides up to 17 per cent of Perth's water requirements with no dependence on rainfall, amounting to an extra 45 gigalitres of water per annum.
The project has been deemed an overwhelming success. It was delivered on time for the 2006/2007 summer and on budget for $387 million, representing excellent value for money with costs well below comparative desalination plants of its type around the world and within Australia.
The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) organises the annual PMAA to recognise excellence in project management in each State.
AIPM WA Chapter President, Dr Neveen Moussa said the Project of the Year was a hugely successful engineering feat that other Australian states can learn from. "This year's WA winner is an exciting project for Australia that addresses the water shortage problems that most states are facing. The project has been implemented with great success, bringing great benefits to the region. This project provides a model for other states and countries to emulate," said Dr Moussa.
The project includes a Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Plant and the associated infrastructure of 25 kilometres of trunk main and a pump station to deliver the water into the Integrated Water Supply Scheme.
The success of the project was achieved by excellent planning, a highly experienced project team, best practice community consultation and meticulous environmental and engineering assessments.
The project met the most rigorous environmental approval procedures ever imposed on a completed Water Corporation development project, which included the most intensive marine monitoring program of any desalination plant in the world.
In 2006 Perth suffered one of its driest ever winters and without the output from the Desalination Plant during the 2006-2007 summer, it was likely that sprinkler restrictions would have had to be imposed on Perth households.
All State and Territory winners will proceed to the national finals. The National Project of the Year will be announced in Hobart at the national awards ceremony on October 9, held as part of AIPM's annual conference.
