Eyre Peninsula desalination project
The Eyre Peninsula urgently needs a desalination plant.
A desalination plant at Billy Lights Point is the quickest solution to ensuring water security for the Eyre Peninsula. Marine science research undertaken to date indicates that with the right engineering design, a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point can be built with minimal impact on the marine and coastal environments.
The Eyre Peninsula urgently needs a desalination plant.
A desalination plant at Billy Lights Point is the quickest solution to ensuring water security for the Eyre Peninsula. Marine science research undertaken to date indicates that with the right engineering design, a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point can be built with minimal impact on the marine and coastal environments.
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We would like to ensure you remain up to date with information about the construction activities, when they are occurring and what to expect.
If you would like to receive these updates, please register by completing this form.
Alternatively, contact us directly on 0477 448 544 or at epdesal@sawater.com.au
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Project updates
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February 2025 project update.pdf (1.27 MB) (pdf)
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December 2024 project update.pdf (389 KB) (pdf)
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March 2024 geotechnical investigations.pdf (422 KB) (pdf)
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March 2024 Economic Opportunities Forum and design changes.pdf (849 KB) (pdf)
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November 2023 project update.pdf (128 KB) (pdf)
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August 2023 project update (814 KB) (pdf)
Fact sheets
Contact us
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Phone 0477 448 544 Email epdesal@sawater.com.au
Project Delivery Office
6/50 Liverpool St, Port Lincoln
Our Project Information Centre is transitioning to a Project Delivery Office.
Project staff will be on hand to answer any questions from the public.
If the office is unattended, feel free to call the dedicated project phone 0477 448 544 and a local staff member will be able to assist you.
Follow Project
Media centre
- SA Water to deliver additional actions to protect EP water security - April 2024
- Opportunity for EP businesses to get involved in desalination project - February 2024
- EP desalination plant design changes informed by key stakeholders - February 2024
- EP desal reference group to provide community input - May 2023
- Community invited to hear from scientific experts on EP desalination plant - April 2023
- Billy Lights Point preferred site for desalination plant - March 2023
- New desal site chosen to secure EP’s water future - October 2021
- EP desalination site options to be explored - April 2021
Project timeline
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2008
Eyre Peninsula desalination project has finished this stageSA Water's Long Term Plan for Eyre Region endorsed by the community
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2020
Eyre Peninsula desalination project has finished this stageLocations for desalination plant investigated
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2021
Eyre Peninsula desalination project has finished this stageBilly Lights Point site selected for desalination plant
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2022
Eyre Peninsula desalination project has finished this stageSite Selection Committee established
Marine Science Review Panel established and additional monitoring of the marine environment ongoing
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2023
Eyre Peninsula desalination project is currently at this stageBilly Lights Point site announced
Development of design for the desalination plant and supporting infrastructure
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2024
this is an upcoming stage for Eyre Peninsula desalination projectConstruction of the new desalination plant expected to begin
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mid-2026
this is an upcoming stage for Eyre Peninsula desalination projectPlant fully operational and first water delivered
Learn more
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Research
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Marine Science Forum Summary Notes - September 2023 (218 KB) (pdf)
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Response to the independent review of the SARDI report entitled 'Oceanographic monitoring and far-field modelling to inform desalination in Boston Bay' by A/Prof. Jochen Kaempf - March 2023 (457 KB) (pdf)
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SARDI Oceanographic monitoring and far-field modelling to inform desalination in Boston Bay - February 2023 (7.27 MB) (pdf)
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Marine Characterisation of Water Quality at Billy Lights Point and Point Boston, Port Lincoln - December 2022 (2.8 MB) (pdf)
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Desalination ecotoxicity review - December 2022 (1.04 MB) (pdf)
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Boston Bay Marine Habitat Video Analysis - March 2023 (1.51 MB) (pdf)
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Marine Science Review Panel
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Guiding Principles (151 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 23 November 2023.pdf (60.7 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 15 September 2023.pdf (60.7 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 7 July 2023.pdf (54.7 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 15 May 2023.pdf (99.2 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 9 December 2022.pdf (96.5 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 10 June 2022 (152 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting statement - 27 June 2022 (152 KB) (pdf)
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Chair's report to Site Selection Committee - June 2022 (163 KB) (pdf)
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Chair's report to Site Selection Committee - August 2022 (155 KB) (pdf)
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Chair's report to Site Selection Committee - September 2022 (264 KB) (pdf)
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Chair's report to Site Selection Committee - October 2022 (148 KB) (pdf)
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Chair's report to Site Selection Committee - December 2022 (110 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee
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Site Selection Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (227 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 8 February 2022.pdf (170 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 11 February 2022.pdf (319 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 24 February 2022.pdf (584 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 3 March 2022.pdf (590 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 7 March 2022.pdf (638 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 11 April 2022.pdf (648 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 19 May 2022.pdf (635 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 7 June 2022.pdf (635 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 30 June 2022.pdf (638 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 14 July 2022.pdf (359 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 4 August 2022.pdf (644 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 8 August 2022.pdf (588 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 25 October 2022.pdf (231 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 9 November 2022.pdf (302 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 19 December 2022.pdf (193 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Meeting Minutes - 10 February 2023.pdf (313 KB) (pdf)
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Site Selection Committee Assessment Criteria.pdf (512 KB) (pdf)
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Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant Working Group
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Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant Working Group Terms of Reference - September 2022.pdf (333 KB) (pdf)
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Eyre Peninsula Desalination Working Group - Monthly progress report - August and September.pdf (478 KB) (pdf)
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Eyre Peninsula Desalination Working Group - Monthly progress report - October.pdf (162 KB) (pdf)
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Eyre Peninsula Desalination Working Group - Monthly progress report - November.pdf (99.8 KB) (pdf)
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Frequently asked questions
- Is the desalination plant still on track to provide water from mid-2026?
- When will construction commence?
- Will you enforce water restrictions if the plant can’t be built in time?
- Have you received Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation approval for the project?
- What is the cost of the project?
- How will you protect cultural heritage throughout construction given Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC) is not supportive of the project?
- Where does the Eyre Peninsula currently get its water from?
- Why do we need a desalination plant?
- How does the desalination process turn seawater into drinking water?
- Why does the desalination plant need to be at Billy Lights Point?
- Why wasn’t the Site Selection Committee’s recommendation of Sleaford West accepted?
- How much water will the desalination plant produce?
- When will the desalination plant start supplying water to the Eyre Peninsula?
- Who will receive the desalinated water?
- How much will the desalination plant cost to build? How is the project being funded?
- Why can’t the Adelaide Desalination Plant supply water to the Eyre Peninsula?
- Will the desalination discharge affect the marine environment? What research has been conducted regarding salinity in the bays and dispersion of the discharge?
- What temperatures will water be returned to the Bay?
- Why don’t you store the desalination discharge on land and harvest the salt through evaporation?
- Will the intake pull in fish and mussels like a vacuum cleaner?
- What happens to desalination discharge during dodge tides?
- How will salinity levels at the outfall location be monitored?
- The desalination plant will be located near the wastewater treatment plant and stormwater outlets, will that affect the safety and quality of desalinated water?
- What’s happening with the Northern Water project?
- Has consideration been given to pumping water from the Tod Reservoir?
Help with contacting us
Deaf, hearing or speech impaired customers.
Contact us through the National Relay Service and ask for SA Water on 1300 729 283.
- TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for SA Water on 1300 729 283
- Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for SA Water on 1300 729 283
Calling from overseas
You can contact us on +61 8 7424 1735
Postal address
PO Box 693, Port Lincoln SA 5606