Water for good

Desalination plant for SA

A huge new desalination plant in Lonsdale will provide South Australia with up to 100 billion litres of water each year for decades to come. Adelaide Aqua (a consortium of four Companies, United Utilities, Acciona, Abigroup and McConnell Dowell) has been contracted to design, build, operate and maintain the plant for the next 20 years.

The project, part of South Australia’s ‘Water for Good’ plan, will cost $1.83 billion and the plant will deliver up to 100 billion litres of water each year (100 GL) - about half of Adelaide’s annual water supply.

O’Donnell Griffin is responsible for all the electrical installation associated with the process works. “We are installing the cabling and cabling management systems for the motors, the controls and all the main switchboards,” said Richard Lane, SA State Manager. This process-related electrical work includes installation of plant-wide HV/LV reticulation, HV/LV switchgear, cable management systems and process power and control cabling.

Adelaide Aqua has been pleased with O’Donnell Griffin’s performance, particularly with respect to occupational health and safety (OHS)said Lane. Adelaide Aqua holds a monthly safety breakfast which key supplier groups attend, and O’Donnell Griffin were asked to present. “Subcontractors have rarely been asked to present, but because we demonstrated strong OHS management, we were invited to lead a session,” said Lane.

Rick Cassab, Construction Director for Adelaide Aqua, paid tribute to O’Donnell Griffin’s safety performance on the project. “A multi-disciplined project such as the desalination plant brings with it the challenge of blending different construction cultures in an accelerated and congested environment.”

“O’Donnell Griffin has been a key subcontractor in developing the OHS culture on this project and actively participated in the Safety Improvement Program,” said Cassab.

As well as coordinating many different subcontractors, some of the key OHS issues on the project were its sensitive environmental location, erosion and sediment control, work in confined spaces and work at heights.

“As a head contractor, we always want to align with subcontractors who believe in improving OHS cultures,” said Cassab. “From the outset, it was evident that O’Donnell Griffin took safety seriously and lived by their principles. The company brings a mature, professional approach to OHS. They have the highly skilled and trained workforce required to deliver.”

The desalination plant will be completed in December 2012.