A Seymour Whyte VINCI Construction Grands Projets (Major Projects) joint venture has been awarded a significant contract by Icon Water, as part of its Major Projects Delivery Program in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The 10-year Program Delivery Agreement focuses on the design, engineering, and delivery of new wastewater treatment processes as well as major upgrades to the existing facilities to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the treatment infrastructure.

Based on a collaborative design and construct approach, the joint venture will work alongside design firm BECA HunterH2O and Icon Water, to deliver major upgrades to Canberra’s existing Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (LMWQCC), the largest Australian inland wastewater treatment plant, which has been in operation since the late 1970s.

The initial project in the partnership will construct a new membrane bioreactor with capacity of 97ML of wastewater a day, thanks to innovative membrane treatment technology. At the completion of this project,  LMWQCC will upgraded the plants treatment capacity to support Canberra’s growing population.

The initial project scope involves installing the following systems or processes:

  • Plant bypass and return system
  • Pre-treatment screening and screenings management
  • Grit removal and grit management
  • New secondary treatment process including fine screening, bioreactors, membrane bioreactor tanks, membrane permeate storage, chemical dosing systems, blowers, and waste-activated sludge (WAS) management systems
  • Non-potable water system to pump membrane permeate into the existing non-potable water infrastructure at LMWQCC for on-site process use.
  • Sodium hypochlorite dosing system, replacing and increasing capacity for the existing dosing system at the site.

Sustainability

This project is committed to maximising design life and utilising sustainable design and construction methods.

At its peak, the project will employ around 250 people, with a focus on engaging local talent.

During construction, several environmental and sustainability measures will be implemented on-site, including powering the site office with 100% renewable energy, reusing 90% of materials on-site, and using 100% recycled water for construction activities.

Seymour Whyte Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, John Kirkwood, said the partnership with Icon Water reflects the shared commitment to sustainable infrastructure and community growth.

“We are honoured to partner with Icon Water, and our design partners Beca HunterH2O, on this transformative project, “Mr. Kirkwood said.

“This project demonstrates Seymour Whyte’s and VINCI Construction Grands Projets’ expertise in water resource management and our dedication to delivering infrastructure that is both sustainable and resilient.”

“Working together with Icon Water, we aim to create infrastructure that serves today’s needs, while also supporting the future growth and sustainability of the Canberra community,” he added.

“Our team brings a wealth of global experience and innovative practices to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that will create lasting environmental and community benefits for years to come”.

Beca Group CEO Amelia Linzey said, “We are passionate about water and infrastructure to help communities prosper. We are looking forward to this partnership bringing great success to our team, our project partners and to the communities these projects serve.”

Icon Water Acting General Manager Infrastructure Services, Cameron Brown, said at Icon Water, we are excited to see this project reach such a significant milestone, which has been the result of the considerable efforts of our staff and our delivery partners Seymour Whyte, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Beca Hunter H20.

“This first project will address both our immediate wastewater treatment asset needs, but with an eye on our future. By expanding our capacity and moving to newer treatment technologies, this major upgrade to the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre will help us build a sustainable wastewater legacy for our community”.

“With the establishment of this collaborative contract, we can now ramp up into the detailed design and construction phases. There’s plenty of work to get through over the coming years, but we are confident we have a great team to make a success of it”.