Host named for new water recycling centre of excellence

Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, has announced that Western Corridor Recycled Water will receive $20 million over five years to host the National Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling in Brisbane.

“As we tackle the challenges associated with climate change, the Rudd government is committed to supporting state governments and local communities as they identify new ways to secure their urban water supplies,” Senator Wong said.

“The Rudd government is providing $1.5 billion towards new water infrastructure projects to help take the pressure off mains water supplies and provide cities and towns with alternative sources of water that are less dependent on rainfall.

“Many communities around Australia are considering new water supply options including stormwater harvesting, desalination and water recycling.”

Senator Wong said establishing the National Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling would help develop and commercialise new water recycling technologies.

Western Corridor Recycled Water is owned by state authority WaterSecure. WaterSecure CEO Keith Davies said the expertise of the centre’s partners, and connections with national and international academia, industry and technological providers, would ensure that Australia is recognised as an international leader in water recycling research.

“Our key focus is to bring together, under one centre of excellence, parties from around Australia with an interest in developing and commercialising breakthrough water recycling technologies and finding solutions to our water issues in a collaborative and pioneering environment,” Davies said.

Western Corridor Recycled Water will host the centre with involvement from founding partners University of Queensland, Griffith University, University of New South Wales and the CSIRO, along with industry partners including Veolia Water Australia and GHD.

The centre is expected to start work later this year. More information about the Centre of Excellence is available at: www.environment.gov.au/water.