Northern Water

During NAIDOC Week, we recognise and celebrate the enduring cultures, knowledge and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Northern Water Project area is located on Barngarla land and Kokotha land.

A key aim of the Project is to protect and minimise impacts on areas identified as having cultural heritage significance. Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys, undertaken in collaboration with the relevant Traditional Owners, have been and continue to be used to inform project planning and development.

We’re working closely with Barngarla and Kokotha to develop Indigenous Land Use Agreements to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.

Learn more about Northern Water Project and how we are honouring and respecting Aboriginal culture ➡️ www.northernwater.sa.gov.au/native-title-aboriginal-heritage

How is Northern Water working to protect the environment?

Environmental protection is influencing how the project is being designed, including measures designed to avoid or minimise impacts on ecosystems, both in the water and on land.

Just some of the ways the project is being designed to do this👇

✅ Tunnelling desalination plant intake and outfall pipelines to avoid disturbing sand dunes, mangroves and seagrass areas
✅ Locating the desalination plant away from sensitive coastal environments
✅ Using scientific modelling of tides, currents and water movements to ensure the design of the desalination plant meets environmental requirements
✅ Planning the pipeline to avoid cultural heritage, native vegetation and habitat wherever possible
✅ Studying local plants, animals and water conditions to better understand the area and inform project decisions
✅ Encouraging regeneration of areas affected by construction through measures such as retaining topsoil, managing weeds and supporting natural regrowth

Environmental studies and assessments are continuing to help identify potential impacts and ensure they are carefully managed.

Find out more and stay up to date via the links in the comments, or contact the project team directly:
📧 [email protected]
📱 1300 893 196

Share your feedback and local insights!

Planning is continuing for the proposed Northern Water Project, which includes a large-scale desalination plant at Mullaquana Station, about 20 kilometres south of Whyalla, and a transfer pipeline to supply water to industry in South Australia’s Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North.

Community and stakeholder feedback continues to play an important role in our planning. An Environmental Impact Statement is also being prepared to assess potential environmental, social and economic impacts.

💡Have your say by completing the survey, linked in the comments.

The survey asks you to share your insights on a range of different elements related to the construction and operation of the desalination plant, including environmental protection, construction impacts, local opportunities and community benefits.

📍You can also provide location-specific feedback by adding a marker to the interactive map of the proposed project area.

Want to learn more about the Northern Water Project and have your say?

We’re currently preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the Project and our team will be in Whyalla next week to chat with the community and answer your questions.

📍 Come and meet the team at the locations listed in the image below.

More community sessions along the pipeline corridor - including Port Augusta - will be announced soon. Stay tuned for dates.

To stay up to date, subscribe for Project Updates by clicking the link in the comments. 👇

📧 [email protected]
📞 1300 893 196

Home | Northern Water We acknowledge that Northern Water is being delivered on the traditional lands of the Barngarla and Kokatha peoples and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters. We pay our respects to the diversity of cultures, significance of contributions and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Want to know more about the Northern Water project and the selection of Mullaquana Station as the preferred desalination plant site?

We’ll be holding community drop-in sessions in Whyalla at the Westland Hotel Motel, 100 McDouall Stuart Ave, Whyalla Norrie tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 December), between 10am-12pm and 3pm-6pm.

Can’t make it tomorrow? We’ll have more sessions scheduled in 2026.

Alternatively, you can contact us via email [email protected], by phone 1300 893 196 and or by signing up for regular updates through [email protected]

The selection of Mullaquana Station as the preferred desalination plant site marks an important milestone for Northern Water, enabling Project planning, procurement and environmental assessment activities to proceed.

Want to know more about the next steps for the project?

We’re hosting information sessions in Whyalla:
📆 Wednesday, 3 Dec, 9am – 12pm at Westland Shopping Centre, McDouall Stuart Ave, Whyalla Norrie
📆 Wednesday, 3 Dec, 2pm – 5pm at Whyalla Foreshore Public BBQ adjacent the Buttlingarra Way car park and Rotary Park
📆 Wednesday, 10 Dec, 10am – 12pm and 3pm – 6pm at Westland Hotel Motel, 100 McDouall Stuart Ave, Whyalla Norrie

We’ll have more sessions early next year!

Want to know more about the project, visit www.northernwater.sa.gov.au/