Gold Coast Desalination Plant

What is it? A 125,000m3/d seawater reverse osmosis plant on Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia.

Who is responsible? The GCD Alliance project team included John Holland (construction), Veolia Water (technology), Sinclair Knight Merz (design), and Cardno (pipelines). The owner is SureSmart Water, a government-controlled entity.

Why is it shortlisted?

• It is the first large-scale desalination plant to be built on Australia's eastern seaboard, and the first facility in the world of this type and scale to treat the backwater flows, bringing clear environmental benefits.

• Situated in a major tourism and residential area, the project is a shining example of environmentally sensitive design, innovative construction techniques and energy efficiency.

• The project was initiated at a time of extreme drought, when local surface water supplies dropped to just 17% of capacity. The fast-track delivery time of just 24 months will ensure security of supply to more than 700,000 residents in Southeast Queensland for many years to come.