Connors River Dam and Pipelines

• Preliminary, scoping and feasibility works undertaken

Completed
(Late 2007)

• Preparation of Initial Advice Statement

Completed
(February 2008)

• Concept design engineering undertaken
• Preliminary yield and demand assessments undertaken

Completed
(December 2008)

• Preliminary environmental and cultural heritage assessments
• Geotechnical investigations conducted
• Preliminary design engineering undertaken
• SunWater prepared a preliminary business case to determine the feasibility of the project and secure on-going funding of the project through to final business case stage
• Ongoing consultation and communication with relevant project stakeholders

Completed
(December 2009)

• SunWater prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the formal approvals process
• EIS released for public comment

Completed
(March 2010)

• SunWater finalised a detailed business case including preliminary designs, refined CAPEX and OPEX estimates, assessed financial and economic benefits and costs of the project, detailed demand assessments including market soundings and commitments, a detailed capital management strategy, detailed risk assessments and assessments of optimum delivery and procurement methods

Completed
(December 2010)

• The business case was submitted to SunWater’s Shareholding Ministers for assessment and approval

• The Coordinator-General reviewed all comments made from the EIS public release period and requested further information about the project through a Supplementary Report to the EIS
• SunWater conducted further required investigation/assessment and finalised a Supplementary Report to the EIS

Completed
(March 2011)

• The Coordinator-General reviews the Supplementary Report, liaises with relevant Advisory Agencies and develops the Coordinator-General’s Report

Completed (January 2012) 

• Federal Minister for the Environment reviews the Coordinator-General’s Report (and other relevant material) under the bilateral agreement and makes a decision on the project

• SunWater and preferred tenderers jointly apply for State and local government approvals, as specified in the EIS

• SunWater selects construction partners, progresses detailed designs and constructability assessments under a competitive early tenderer involvement (ETI) procurement process
• Further on-site investigations are undertaken to inform detailed design process (geotechnical and engineering assessments)
• SunWater develops agreed construction cost estimates with preferred constructors
• Water Supply and Transport Agreements are negotiated and finalised with potential customers of the project
• Property acquisition, tenure and native title arrangements are finalised

• SunWater gains required approvals and permits to commence construction
• Construction proceeds over a period of approximately 2.5 years
• Commissioning of the project is forecast to occur in early 2014