Albany locals fear Water Corporation’s proposed Frenchman Bay desalination plant poses “existential threat”

Residents have sounded the alarm on a plan to put a desalination plant in King George Sound amid fears the deposits of briny wastewater pose an “existential threat” to the south coast’s delicate ecosystem. Representatives from the tourism, fishing, aquaculture, scientific and local community have joined forces to oppose the location of the Water Corporation’s preferred location for the plant’s intake and outfall pipes in Frenchman Bay. Stakeholders such as Albany Shellfish Hatchery manager Jonathan Bilton, whose facility is adjacent to the proposed site, said they were not against desalination, only the “unacceptable risk” the proposal poses. “The reason we have the hatchery here is because of the access to the pristine water,” he said. “I’m terrified of anything that could degrade that and this desalination plant is an existential threat. “Oyster spat/larvae are incredibly sensitive to contaminants and I’ve seen through bitter experience how easy it is for them to fail and die. “The State Government has spent multi-millions of dollars on the hatchery, and we’re the foundation of the shellfish industry in Albany, which they’ve also spent a huge amount on. “Why are they spending so much expanding and supporting us if it could all come tumbling down? It’s reckless.” Water Corp has been investigating options to guarantee a future water drinking source in the Great Southern to cater for its swelling population since 2021 with the desalination plant and a new groundwater source in Manypeaks the top contenders. The plant, now in the planning stage, would take in seawater through pipes opening near the coast of Frenchman Bay, process it to remove the salt and make it drinkable, and deposit the salty effluent back into the bay. The primary concern is the semi-enclosed sound’s inability to flush the brine, which is heavier than seawater due to its higher salt density, leaving it to slide to the bottom of the deep basin in Frenchman Bay and killing the base layer of flora and fauna, thus causing a flow-on effect of damage as it moves up the ecosystem. Albany Seafoods owner Tony Westerberg said his business would tank if the effluent affected the population of sardines in King George Sound, which is where he catches 98 per cent of his fish. “I fished in King George Sound all my life since I was 16 and I understand the water flows around,” he said. “It’s like the harbours are two great bellows and the salt will not disperse as they say, the modelling isn’t right. “We’re out of business, we’re done if this happens.” Water Corporation Great Southern regional manager Adrian Stewart said investigations had been in the works for several years, reiterating that “no decision will be made” until late 2025. Mr Stewart said the project was still in its monitoring and investigative phase, with the results of a preliminary concept study and ocean modelling investigation taking place next year to be shared with stakeholders. “We are fully aware of the significant environmental, social and commercial values in both the groundwater and desalination investigation areas and either option would be subject to strict environmental safeguards to minimise the potential impact to the surrounding environment and stakeholders,” he said. “This is very much a collaborative process and we value the input of the community and other key stakeholders. “We are committed to engaging with them, before and after making a decision.” Some stakeholders, however, say they have not been consulted at all, such as Albany Boating and Fishing Club president Anthony Wise. “If it goes ahead, it will create a problem for a host of sea creatures and basically make a desert scenario out there which impacts from the club from recreational fishing,” Mr Wise said. “I have been told by Water Corporation that they’ve held public stakeholder meetings. “I have not been contacted. I haven’t been told about it. I have asked to be registered as a stakeholder, as an interested party. “I’ve had no correspondence back from them at all.” Mr Stewart noted that similar desalination plants in places like Cockburn Sound have been successfully operated “all without issue” for more than 18 years and further stakeholder meetings would occur in 2025. Alternative sites such as a groundwater source at Angove and desalination intake/outfalls in Princess Royal Harbour, the South Coast and Vancouver Peninsula and Salmon Holes under investigation have been discontinued. More information on the project can be found by searching “Great Southern future water source planning” on the Water Corporation website.