The Adelaide desalination plant has reached a major milestone – the production of 50 billion litres (50 gigalitres) of desalinated water.
This coincides with South Australian Water Minister Ian Hunter opening a purpose-built walking trail providing unique views along the perimeter of the plant to the public.
“The walking trail connects the coastal paths surrounding the Adelaide Desalination Plant, and also meets an important commitment made in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement,” he says.
“The entire desalination plant site has been designed to incorporate the plant’s world-class technical features into, and complement, the local environment.
“The trail showcases thousands of local native plants sourced from South Australian specialists, new wetlands which provide a home for birdlife, and a rehabilitated and revegetated creek.”
“There are three lookout points along the trail where the public will learn about local Kaurna Aboriginal cultural heritage, and the surrounding landscape.
“The Kaurna people have a strong relationship with the coastline on which the desalination plant has been built, and the trail was developed in collaboration with the Kaurna people so we can share the history, culture and dreaming stories with our future generations,” he says.
“The trail complements the Kauwi Interpretive Centre, which can also be accessed by the public and school groups through SA Water’s Brainwave education program.
“Already this year more than 3,200 people have visited the Centre to learn more about desalination and one of our most precious resources – water.”
Minister Hunter says the Adelaide Desalination Plant is critical infrastructure that will deliver water security for all South Australians, and reaching 50 gigalitres of desalinated water is an important milestone.
“To date, more than 50 billion litres of desalinated water has been supplied to SA Water’s customers in metropolitan Adelaide, including approximately 31 billion litres since January this year.”
