A major phase of marine and tunnelling work has begun off the coast near the Belmont desalination plant with the arrival of a jack-up barge work platform, Hunter Water has confirmed.
Positioned about 800m offshore from Nine Mile Beach, the platform signals the official start of offshore construction on the critical project designed to secure drinking water supplies for the Lower Hunter.
The offshore works will include installing a direct ocean intake structure and tunnelling a pipeline beneath the seabed to transport seawater to the onshore treatment facility.
Hunter Water’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Hayes, said the milestone marked progression into one of the most technically complex stages of the project.
“Now that the jack-up barge is in place, we’re progressing into the most complex and technical phase of marine and tunnelling works,” Hayes said. “This work is crucial to delivering a reliable, rainfall-independent drinking water source for our community.”
Hayes said Hunter Water and its delivery partner, John Holland, are committed to carrying out the construction safely and with minimal disruption to beachgoers and marine life. Ongoing engagement with boating, recreation and coastal user groups will continue, she said, with updates provided on offshore activities, including exclusion zones and vessel movements.
Once operational, the Belmont desalination plant is expected to produce up to 30 million litres of drinking water per day, which is roughly 15 per cent of the Lower Hunter’s average daily demand. The project aims to diversify the region’s water sources and strengthen resilience to drought and climate variability.
Offshore specialist contractor activities currently underway include:
- Establishment of the jack-up barge and its pile-anchored platform.
- Installation of the direct ocean intake structure using precast caissons set into the seabed.
- Onshore preparation to support construction of a tunnel beneath Nine Mile Beach and the seabed linking the intake to the desalination plant.
Hayes reiterated that Belmont was chosen for its proximity to the ocean, compatibility with the existing water network and minimal expected impact on the local community and environment.
“The marine and tunnelling works are designed to minimise impact to the environment,” she said. “The intake structure has a low velocity design ensuring sea creatures avoid being drawn into the system, while the brine left from the seawater desalination process will be returned to the sea via the existing ocean outfall at the nearby wastewater treatment works.”
Local residents and visitors to Nine Mile Beach, including boaters and sailors, may see the work platform, support vessels and crane operations offshore. Vessel users are advised to observe a 500-square-metre exclusion zone around the works for safe navigation.