Big things are happening beneath the surface at the Belmont Desalination Plant, as Georgiou proudly supports STRABAG on our first collaborative project for client John Holland.
Located south of Newcastle, New South Wales, the Belmont Desalination Plant is a critical piece of infrastructure that will provide a safe, reliable and rainfall-independent water supply for the Lower Hunter region. Once operational, the facility will contribute approximately 15 per cent of the region’s average daily water needs, strengthening long-term water security as part of the NSW Government’s Lower Hunter Water Security Plan.
Construction is progressing steadily, with completion scheduled for 2028. John Holland is delivering the main works, while STRABAG and Georgiou are collaborating on the technically complex subsea intake tunnel, a key connection between the desalination plant and the ocean.
Milestones Achieved Beneath the Surface
Georgiou is supporting STRABAG with mobilisation, logistics and site establishment, including the setup of the micro tunnel boring machine (MTBM) and associated equipment.
A major milestone was reached in early-January 2026 with the handover of the launch shaft, enabling tunnelling works to move into their next critical phase, which is the launching of the MTBM, marking the formal commencement of underground excavation works.
From now until March 2026, STRABAG will undertake pipejacking works to construct the 814-metre subsea intake tunnel, forming a vital component of the desalination plant’s seawater intake system. The tunnel will be formed using 2,000 mm internal-diameter concrete jacking pipes, designed for long-term subsea operation.
Once complete, the MTBM will break through into an offshore caisson, where it will be safely retrieved using a jack-up barge. Pipejacking works are expected to be completed from April 2026, followed by dismantling and handover activities.
Engineering Excellence with Community at Its Heart
Adding a meaningful local touch, students from Belmont Public School and Marks Point Public School were invited to help name the tunnel boring machine.
The TBM was affectionately named “Rhiannan”, in honour of Australian diving champion and local legend Rhiannan Iffland. The name reflects strength, precision and excellence — qualities mirrored in the engineering task ahead.
A Collaboration Shaping the Future
The Belmont Desalination Plant represents an important milestone as Georgiou and STRABAG’s first Australian collaboration, combining local delivery expertise with global tunnelling capability.
Together, we are contributing to infrastructure that will secure water for generations to come — a true showcase of collaboration, innovation and engineering excellence.
Learn more about the project here: Belmont desalination plant | Hunter Water
Learn more about microtunnelling here: Belmont-Desal-Fact-sheet-Tunnelling-and-Marine-FINAL.pdf
