Veolia to Advance Technological Innovation in Water Management in Australia

Veolia has continued the strong growth of its water business across Australia, further consolidating its dominance as one of the largest private operators of water and wastewater infrastructure in the country.

This is the latest success of its GreenUp strategic program, which has a focus on delivering useful innovations that can save territories and communities tens of millions of dollars.

New contracts
Central Highlands Water has signed a 15-year contract for six water treatment plants across the region, with a five year option. Uniquely, this contract has been coupled with a sustainable energy contract for the first three years, bringing together two of Veolia strengths.

Hunter Water has also engaged Veolia for a further 10 years, with an additional five year option. Veolia will continue to operate and maintain all of Hunter Water’s treatment facilities, including the new Belmont Desalination Plant once it is operational. Veolia will develop new technologies to reduce the facility’s energy consumption. This follows on from Veolia’s previous service contract, which has seen it operate Hunter Water’s facilities since 2014 and currently serves more than half a million Australians.

Extension of Gold Coast Desalination plant, Queensland
At the same time, Seqwater has extended Veolia’s operation and management (O&M) contract for the Gold Coast Desalination Plant for up to 4 years. With Seqwater, Veolia is installing 2,500 solar panels, which will produce 2.32 GWh of emissions free energy, the equivalent of removing up to 400 cars from the road every year. The plant can produce up to 43GL of fresh drinking water every year for residents of South East Queensland, and plays a vital role providing a critical source of drinking water during floods and natural disasters, such as when Cyclone Alfred crossed the coast earlier this year.

Background
Veolia Australia currently operates and maintains 68 water, wastewater and recycled water treatment plants across Australia, producing around 1480ML of safe drinking water every day for more than 3 million Australians. This is on top of treating a combined 660ML a day of wastewater, recycled water, and industrial water, while operating and maintaining 392km of large diameter bulk water pipeline.