List of desalination plants in Australia


As a result of the water supply crisis during the severe 1997–2009 drought State governments around Australia began building desalination plants that purify seawater using reverse osmosis technology. Many of these plants have included in their overall cost the building of renewable energy sources such as wind farms.
Australia's first working desalination plant was the Kwinana plant in Perth, and was completed in November 2006. A second plant on the Gold Coast began operations in February 2009. The Kurnell Desalination Plant in Sydney was opened on 28 January 2010.

List of desalination plants

Desalination plants in use

Smaller desalination plants

StateLocationCapacity StatusYear
Commissioned

Western Australia
Albany 34Approved 2012

Western Australia
Barrow Island 7Operating

Western Australia
Burrup 16.4Operating

Western Australia
Cape Preston 140Operating

Western Australia
Esperance45Proposed 2011

Western Australia
Garden Island UnknownQ1 2014

Western Australia
Karratha175Planning

Western Australia
Long Island 0.017Operating

Western Australia
Onslow 11

Western Australia
Rottnest Island0.55Operating

Western Australia
Undecided150Planning

South Australia
Hawker0.44Operating

South Australia
Kangaroo Head 0.3Operating

South Australia
Leigh Creeknot knownOperating

South Australia
Marion Bay0.06Operating2008

South Australia
Port Augusta 8Operating

South Australia
Sleaford Bay8Planning 2018/19

South Australia
Whyalla Steelworks 4Operating

Queensland
Green Island0.06Operating

Queensland
Hamilton Island1.5Operating

Queensland
Hook Island?Operating

Queensland
Long Island 0.12Operating

Queensland
St. Agnes / 1770 1.5Operating2010

Offshore
Christmas Island4.5Operating

Offshore
Home Island 0.35Under construction 2014

Offshore
Timor Sea 0.5?
Secondary desalination plants, citations'''

Desalination plants in development or cancelled