Media release
21 December 2010
The National Centre of Excellence in Desalination
has awarded nearly $3 million in funding
to research projects investigating ways
to advance desalination technology.
Announcing the Centre's
second round of funding today, Parliamentary
Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water,
Senator Don Farrell, said the projects were
an important investment in securing future
water supplies for all Australians.
"The projects announced
today demonstrate how the National Centre
of Excellence in Desalination is delivering
on its mission to develop and commercialise
new desalination technologies, with emphasis
on the energy efficiency of the desalination
process," Senator Farrell said.
The 12 projects include
research into improving membrane performance,
new types of desalination for remote areas,
forward osmosis for simultaneous production
of water and fertilizer, and solar powered
desalination for rural communities.
National Centre of Excellence
in Desalination CEO Neil Palmer said "the
Centre is delighted with the strong response
of the Australian research and business
communities to work together on projects
that will make water supply in arid areas
more reliable and economical."
The Centre's investment
of nearly $3 million in funding for the
12 projects is expected to generate significant
in-kind and industry contributions toward
ongoing research activity.
"Investing in research
and development is crucial to developing
a sustainable desalination industry in Australia,"
Senator Farrell said.
"Desalination is
an important component of securing water
supplies in Australia - it can provide water
all year round, regardless of rainfall.
However, we need to
continue to improve the desalination process,
in particular energy efficiency."
The Australian Government
has committed $20 million in funding over
five years to the National Centre of Excellence
in Desalination, through the Water for the
Future initiative.
Chair of the National
Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Graeme
Rowley, said "the Centre represents
an excellent opportunity for Australia to
be a world leader in commercial and technical
development of desalination resulting in
the provision of clean water to a thirsty
world."
Details of the 12 research
projects are attached. For more information
on the government's investment in the National
Centre of Excellence in Desalination, visit
www.environment.gov.au/water
+ More
Launch of the Water
Metering Tasmania project
Media release
13 December 2010
More than 8 billion litres of drinking water
each year is expected to be saved through
the Water Metering Tasmania project, which
was launched today in Hobart.
Parliamentary Secretary
for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator
Don Farrell, said the Gillard Government
was providing $10 million in funding to
Tasmania’s three water corporations to install
water meters to unmetered properties and
upgrade meters that do not meet required
standards.
“Water meters will reduce
water losses through improved detection
and repair of leaks, in both household and
supply systems, and will enable consumers
to make informed choices to better manage
their water usage,” Senator Farrell said
at the launch today.
“The Gillard Government is committed to
helping secure the future water supplies
of Australia’s cities and towns, in response
to the challenges associated with continued
urban growth and the impacts of a changing
climate.
” The Water Metering
Tasmania project demonstrates a commitment
towards more efficient, equitable and sustainable
use of its water resources within Tasmania,
by generating potable water savings of approximately
8.7 billion litres of potable water per
year.
The project is scheduled
to be completed by June 2012, with an estimated
100,000 properties across Tasmania to be
involved in the roll out of the new water
meters.
The $10 million of funding
will be provided to Tasmania’s three water
corporations through the National Water
Security Plan for Cities and Towns, a key
component of the Australian Government’s
Water for the Future initiative.
The Southern Water Corporation
has been allocated $5 million to assist
with rolling out the project, with $2.5
million each going to Ben Lomond Water Corporation
and Cradle Mountain Water Corporation.
Further funding is being
provided by the Water Corporations and the
Tasmanian Government.
The Water Metering Tasmania
project is one of four projects in the state
receiving a total of more than $33 million
in Gillard Government funding under the
National Water Security Plan for Cities
and Towns, including $12 million to the
Huon Valley Regional Water Scheme, more
than $10.5 million towards the Derwent Estuary
Recycling and Irrigation System and more
than $1 million for the Kingborough Sports
Precinct Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse
Project.
