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In the midst of the election campaign in 2006 during a time of critical water shortage in Victoria, the Labor government opposed the construction of a desalination plant. However, once it claimed victory in the election it was quick to change its stance on the matter by making a committment to build the plant.
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The proposed site floods for the first time raising much concern for the location of the plant
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The State Labor government announces its intention to develop a desalination plant on the Bass Coast near Wonthaggi. The plan is announced as part of the governments water plan marketed as 'Our Water, Our Future'.
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John Brumby becomes Victoria's 45th Premier after the shock resignation of Steve Bracks and Deputy Premier John Thwaites.
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The Minister for Planning Justin Madden for the Victorian Government determines that the project would require assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 and preparations for an Environment Effects Statement (EES) begin.
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The government begins reallocating residents located on area of proposed site off the Bass Coast near Wonthaggi
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The Federal Government determines that the project will have to require approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
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Around 150 people protest against the desalination plant in Spring Street and the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne
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The community of Wonthaggi rally against the project
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A 24-hour picket line begins at the proposed site in protest of the project
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Interest group 'Your Water, Your Say' lose case against the government in the Federal Court, with Justice Heeray awarding costs to Federal and State governments as result of action
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The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) prevent access for the van that the community was using as a hub for its 24-hour picket line, ending the 6 week 24-hour picket.
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A group of around 50 conduct a rally on the site, several people are removed from Crown land, none are arrested
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Proposed site floods for a second time, 100m of coastline is landscaped to alter the flow of Powlett River
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Environment Effects Statement (EES) released for public comment by the State Government, with the community given just 5 weeks to submit responses to the 1600-page report
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Legal costs between the State Government and Your Water Your Say (YWYS) settled via consultation with the Federal Government Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett. The state government has not yet responded to the consultations and YWYS has effectively been forced to disband as a result.
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Planning Minister, Justin Madden, approved a planning scheme amendment to allow for a pilot desalination plant to come into effect on the 17 January
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Alternative Technology Association (ATA) holds a seminar on considering alternative water supply options for Melbourne.
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Water storages bottom out at around 26% with rivers and dams in dire conditions.
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A petition of 3,000 signatories opposing the construction of the desalination plant is presented to the Victorian Parliament.
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The winning bidder for constructing the plant is announced which is won by company 'AquaSure'.
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Water Storage levels hit 30% after a period of consistent rain fall
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Construction of the plant gets underway in Wonthaggi
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The Age publishes news of the "memorandum" to share surveiled information with the private consortium
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First section of the pipeline connecting the Desalination Plant to Melbournes water grid gets underway
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The state government is allowing the private consortium behind Victoria's controversial desalination plant to gather intelligence about the activities of protesters and share that information with police, according to a previously secret part of the $3.5 billion deal.
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One of Victoria's top marine biologists has criticised the environmental approvals for the Wonthaggi desalination project, despite being hired to work on the project. Matt Edmunds, an experienced assessor of projects such as the Gunns pulp mill, dredging in Port Phillip Bay and now desalination, said environmental approvals in Victoria were sometimes manipulated and biased to suit proponents.
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EPA Victoria has placed several environmental management requirements on AquaSure Pty Ltd, the company responsible for delivering the Victorian Desalination Project in Wonthaggi. The recent inspection revealed high volumes of acid sulphate soils which had been disturbed, several onsite water bodies with high acidity and potential for substantial runoff from the site, which could change the condition of the receiving waters
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Water storages in Victoria rise above 40%, after best season of rainfall in ten years.
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Many regions around the state are flooded for the first time since the drought began in the late 1990's, prompting many to define the end of the drought.
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Production and related operations expected to commence by end of year.
