CEMP Approvals Consultants | Belmont Desalination Plant

The approved Project (as modified) involves the construction and operation of a permanent desalination plant to augment Hunter Water’s existing water network including seawater intake infrastructure, desalination units, brine discharge via existing ocean outfall at the neighboring Belmont Waste Water Treatment Works, electricity/water supply upgrades and ancillary works.

Construction and operation of the desalination plant is a key action defined under the 2022 Lower Hunter Water Security Plan.

The plant at Belmont will:

• add up to 30 million litres per day of rainfall-independent water supply to the Lower Hunter’s water system, which is around 15% of the region’s  average daily water needs.

• increases the diversity of the region’s water supply system, which will improve the      resilience of the overall system and help Hunter Water to continue to support customers and communities regardless of climate or system shocks

• help to reduce the rate that storages deplete in a long and severe drought by around six months, delaying the need to implement severe drought response measures

• provide a flexible water supply source that is responsive to water supply needs

Apical was selected as the approvals consultants to develop the Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) and associated Sub-Plans in conjunction with other specialist consultants. The Plans were developed in accordance with the requirements of the Infrastructure Approval (SSI-8896) and include the following key documents:

• Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Construction Waste Management Sub Plan
• Construction Groundwater Management Plan
• Construction Flood Emergency Response Sub Plan
• Construction Landscaping Sub Plan
• Construction Helicopter Management Sub Plan
• Offshore Construction Works Management Plan
• Construction Biodiversity Management Plan
• Native Vegetation Management Plan - Brine pipeline
• Construction Soil and Surface Water Management Sub Plan
• Noise and Vibration Management Sub Plan
• Traffic and Pedestrian Management Sub Plan

All plans were approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for implementation during construction of the facility.

Further information regarding the Project, including access to the above documents, is provided on Hunter Water’s website: 

https://www.hunterwater.com.au/community/major-projects-in-your-area/desalination/belmont-desalination-plant-project-documents