A major milestone in construction of the future Alkimos seawater desalination plant has been achieved, with Western Power installing 5km of 132kV underground cabling between the project site and the existing Yanchep substation.

Western Power major works chief Craig Julian said the complex project required significant collaboration between Western Power and Water Corporation to develop a connection solution that aligned with Water Corporation’s long-term strategy to power desalination plants with renewable energy.

“We’ve been working hard across all projects to reduce the complexities involved including access, government approvals permits and liaising with organisations like the Public Transport Authority to ensure safe interface with transport infrastructure like rail bridges in the area,” he said.

“The project site came with some unique challenges, including difficult, rocky terrain which made drilling challenging.

“The site is under significant construction, which meant ensuring we could drill safely under an access track used by 80-tonne trucks.”

Mr Julian said collaboration meant that processes were able to be streamlined ensuring a smooth pathway, safe and efficient connection for community benefit.

“Romeo Rd is an incredibly busy thoroughfare, so it was important for us to structure our works in a way that minimised impact on the local community and we thank them for their patience,” he said.

It is anticipated the Water Corporation facility will provide up to 100 billion litres of safe drinking water per year, with the first stage of the project to deliver 50 billion litres from 2028.

Water Corporation assets planning and delivery acting general manager Nathan Hardwick said the project was a positive example of government agencies partnering to deliver the essential infrastructure needed by growing communities.

“Construction of the Alkimos seawater desalination plant is powering ahead, and this project marks another significant milestone on the road to completion,” he said.

“The level of collaboration between various agencies has been key to minimising impacts and supporting the wider construction schedule.

“When commissioned in 2028, the Alkimos seawater desalination plant will provide an initial 50 billion litres of climate resilient drinking water to support growing communities in Perth’s north.

“Importantly, it will also be fully carbon neutral in line with Water Corporation’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2035.”

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 12 January 2026.