❓ The question seeks to understand why two Pilbara Water Opportunities Scheme projects, deemed feasible, have not progressed. The answer details the reasons for the lack of progression for both the Pilbara Bottled Water Project (lack of private investment) and the Mobile Pipe Machine (need for further R&D, investment, and demand).
AnsweredQoN 4012Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answers given to the additional questions from the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations concerning the Pilbara Water Opportunities Scheme at the 2013–2014 Annual Report hearings, and I ask noting that the proponents for both the Pilbara Bottled Water Project and the Mobile Pipe Machine have expressed a desire to progress beyond the feasibility studies and trials, what reason has each proponent given for not having done so given that their projects were deemed to be feasible?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2015
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development
Response time
55 days
1. PWO - Pilbara Bottled Water Project
The Pilbara Bottle Water (PBW) project proponent was Leighton Contractors, and the original Pilbara Water Opportunity (PWO) Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) was signed on 8th of October 2010.
The objective was to establish the viability, concept and management model for the PBW as a business opportunity for the Tom Price Traditional Owner group (Eastern Guruma). Leighton Contractors established a highly qualified team of industry specialists to research the establishment of a water bottling facility, using excess mine dewatering, and replacing plastic bottles with locally manufactured biodegradable bottles made from plant sugars. The water source later transitioned from mine dewater to a new identified high quality and independent groundwater aquifer water supply.
The project progressed as far as practical, and any continuation would have involved the establishment of the Pilbara Bottled Water Company (PBWCo). This was subject to private sector investment of $3.65m that was not achieved; subsequently the PBWCo phase did not proceed.
2. PWO - Mobile Pipe Machine
The Mobile Pipe Machine (MPM) project proponent was Civmec trading as West Australian Top Environmental Resource (WATER). The original Pilbara Water Opportunity (PWO) Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) was signed on 18th of September 2010.
The MPM project involved the construction and testing of a working scale pipe machine that could be further developed to reduce the overall cost of transport and construction of large diameter pipelines in remote locations of the Pilbara. The project established that a large diameter continuous pipe machine could significantly reduce the supply cost associated with large diameter pipelines.
All compliance aspects of the project were completed, including a scale version of the machine design, fabrication, assembly, and testing. The MPM project was fully acquitted on 11/11/2011.
For the next stage to progress to construction of a full size working version of the MPM, Civmec needed to undertake further research and development as well as obtain significant financial investment and demand for the product from the private and/or resources sector.
The Pilbara Bottle Water (PBW) project proponent was Leighton Contractors, and the original Pilbara Water Opportunity (PWO) Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) was signed on 8th of October 2010.
The objective was to establish the viability, concept and management model for the PBW as a business opportunity for the Tom Price Traditional Owner group (Eastern Guruma). Leighton Contractors established a highly qualified team of industry specialists to research the establishment of a water bottling facility, using excess mine dewatering, and replacing plastic bottles with locally manufactured biodegradable bottles made from plant sugars. The water source later transitioned from mine dewater to a new identified high quality and independent groundwater aquifer water supply.
The project progressed as far as practical, and any continuation would have involved the establishment of the Pilbara Bottled Water Company (PBWCo). This was subject to private sector investment of $3.65m that was not achieved; subsequently the PBWCo phase did not proceed.
2. PWO - Mobile Pipe Machine
The Mobile Pipe Machine (MPM) project proponent was Civmec trading as West Australian Top Environmental Resource (WATER). The original Pilbara Water Opportunity (PWO) Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) was signed on 18th of September 2010.
The MPM project involved the construction and testing of a working scale pipe machine that could be further developed to reduce the overall cost of transport and construction of large diameter pipelines in remote locations of the Pilbara. The project established that a large diameter continuous pipe machine could significantly reduce the supply cost associated with large diameter pipelines.
All compliance aspects of the project were completed, including a scale version of the machine design, fabrication, assembly, and testing. The MPM project was fully acquitted on 11/11/2011.
For the next stage to progress to construction of a full size working version of the MPM, Civmec needed to undertake further research and development as well as obtain significant financial investment and demand for the product from the private and/or resources sector.
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