The project, delivered by Sydney Water, GHD, Fichtner, John Holland and Veolia Water, beat three other finalists from around the world. These included the Chennai Minjur in India, Thames Gateway in the UK and Tianjin MED in China.

Sydney Water Managing Director Kerry Schott said the project won because it was delivered on time $A89 million under budget, and for its benchmark environmental management.

“In just four years, the project has evolved from an idea, to a reality, supplying water to Australia’s biggest city,” he said.

“The plant at Kurnell is one of the largest desalination plants in Australia and has been designed so it can be quickly doubled in size if required in future.

Article continues below…

“The 18 km pipeline connecting the plant to Sydney’s main water supply involved innovative construction techniques, including the laying of twin 1,400 mm diameter pipes in trenches across the floor of Botany Bay – a world engineering first.”

The plant was built by the Blue Water Joint Venture, comprising John Holland and Veolia Water Australia.

The pipeline was built by the Water Delivery Alliance, including Bovis Lend Lease, McConnell Dowell, Worley Parsons, Kellogg Brown & Root, Environmental Resources Management and Sydney Water.