Australian Desalination Plant Costs Increase

The Australian state of Victoria will spend A$24bn on a proposed desalination plant to make Melbourne drought-proof.

According to an estimate presented by the Auditor General of Victoria, the plant will cost A$2bn more than the government’s estimates over the next 30 years.

The estimate says it will cost an extra A$5.8bn for the plant to produce 150 billion litres of water a year.

The reports also says Victoria will pay A$860m every year for desalination if the plant operates at full capacity over 28 years to supply 150 billion litres of water every year, according to abc.net.ou.

The Victorian Government proposes to deliver 150 gigalitres of drinking water per year to Melbourne through an 84km pipeline, powered by an 87km underground power supply.