ACCIONA has been chosen as the major construction partner for the 5.3 gigalitre-per-year capacity Eyre Peninsula desalination plant at Billy Lights Point, on the outskirts of Port Lincoln in South Australia.

The reverse osmosis desalination plant is crucial for providing long-term climate-independent drinking water security for around 35,000 SA Water customers living on the Eyre Peninsula.

ACCIONA has been working closely with SA Water to refine the project’s design particularly in response to critical stakeholder feedback to ensure the project minimises environmental impact.

The final design enhancements include constructing the plant’s marine pipeline infrastructure by tunnelling. This will see a tunnel constructed beneath the shoreline and inter-tidal areas to protect the integrity of the coastline and marine environments.

Another key design element is the placing of the intake and outfall pipes used to draw and return seawater to and from the plant – in deeper waters. 

“We are delighted to use our expertise in designing and building desalination plants to be delivering safe and reliable drinking water for the people of the Eyre Peninsula,” said Danny Parkinson, ACCIONA’s Regional Manager for South Australia.

“We have a strong track record in water security in South Australia, having delivered the 100 gigalitre capacity Adelaide Desalination plant in 2011, and we are pleased to be working with SA Water to secure climate-independent drinking water for thousands more South Australians,” he said. 

The desalination plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.