Community, energy, industry and water

The breakwater is used to ensure the separation of fresh and salt water. On the northern side, this wall will also be used as a foundation for a new area where we can build desalination facilities to produce drinking water,  supply power to produce and store clean energy products such as hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) for domestic as well as export.

mc² Energy has undertaken a thorough concept and design options evaluation of breakwater construction that addresses safety, cost, multi-use intent and stakeholder needs. The breakwater height has been designed to reduce overtopping to a minimum for 10-year storm events. Breakwater crest structures that absorb wave energy and prevent wave reflection are incorporated in the design.

Cuttings from the PKPHP tunnel boring may be recycled to provide a low mound or foundation for the caissons above, reducing the volume of material required for the breakwater.

The NSW Government has identified the Illawarra as one of several hubs for developing Clean Manufacturing Precincts with huge benefits for NSW. Associated facilities as part of PKPHP would support facilities for the storage and export of ammonia and hydrogen, both of which have the potential to provide low-carbon energy that supports the decarbonisation of heavy industry and net-zero missions. This, in turn, would support the construction of green manufacturing based on a reliable supply of these low-carbon fuels.

A new high-capacity desalination plant is necessary to provide Sydney’s water security, particularly if Warragamba Dam storage capacity is reduced, more severe El Nino drought conditions may be expected with climate change, and Sydney’s population growth has increased water demand. The lower reservoir project area could accommodate a high-volume desalination plant that would increase both Greater Sydney’s drinking water supply as well as the combined Cordeaux reservoir-pumped hydro project’s water storage capacity.

The lower reservoir location and breakwaters would incorporate community access for cycling, walking, fishing, and other activities. The breakwater design would incorporate community use as a principle, ensuring Wollongong residents and visitors have ongoing use on the foreshore area.

The Illawarra Escarpment provides opportunities for recreation, such as bike and walking paths. In conjunction with the project and in consultation with community stakeholders, the design imagines developing a network of maintained bike and walking through the escarpment, supporting community recreation and tourism.

A small power transmission service tunnel required in the design could have a dual use as a rapid public transport corridor, much like a HyperTube or Hyperloop concept. When integrated with the existing rail network, a new power and people distribution network could be built.