AECOM to support national desalination research project

Fortune 500 company, AECOM has thrown its support behind a project looking at the long term and strategic role desalinated water could and should play across an expanding Australia particularly the west, east and northern regions.

The project, led by Deakin University, has been funded from the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative through the National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia.

Project leader and Deakin University's Research Professor in Public Policy, Professor Michael Porter, said the in-kind support from AECOM would bring global expertise to the $1.1m project.

"AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure support and management, has been named as one of the world's most ethical companies," he said.

"It is recognised as an outstanding player in the areas of water, desalination and infrastructure and the many planning, financing and governance issues that are connected with it.

"It is great to have them involved."

AECOM's Andrew Macleod, Managing Director – Water and Infrastructure Services, Australia New Zealand said the joint research project is a great example of industry and academia working together for the benefit of the community.

"A sustainable, secure water supply that meets the needs of our future population is a vital element in Australia's long-term economic growth – and desalination is an important element of a modern, risk-based, urban supply portfolio," he said.

Professor Porter said growing State governmental investment in desalination in Australia was helping to remove a 'lack of water' as a constraint to the development, decentralisation and population of Australia, notably in WA, Queensland and SA.

"This project will show how the desalination option in Australia fits within the broader bulk water supply networks – such as catchments, aquifers and recycled water – under varying assumptions and projections about rainfall, population and new developments.

"It will have a number of results but a key part will be modelling which will show what Australia's economic development will look like both with and without a comprehensive desalination plant system. "