The Pilbara Bottled Water Project

Jeremy Connor

Leighton Contractors

Proudly supported by:

AND

Why are Leighton looking at a bottledh lb ?water project in the Pilbara?

• More than 50% of Leighton’s work is in the• More than 50% of Leighton s work is in the Resources/Commodity sector and the Oil & Gas sector

• A LOT of that work is in the Pilbara; where we• A LOT of that work is in the Pilbara; where we have been working for the last 40 years

• We intend to be working in the Pilbara for the next 50 years and strong regional developmentnext 50 years and strong regional development is critical for our future in the region!

Why are Leighton looking at a bottledl h lb ?water plant in the Pilbara?

• The Pilbara is known for its iron ore and• The Pilbara is known for its iron ore and resources wealth

• Pure water is another untapped Pilbara resource stored in massive inland aquifersresource, stored in massive inland aquifers

• Below‐Water‐Table mining provides theBelow Water Table mining provides the opportunity for water to be used as the catalyst for long term regional development in thefor long term regional development in the Pilbara

Why are Leighton looking at a bottledl h lb ?

Royalties for Regions asked for proposals that

water plant in the Pilbara?

Royalties for Regions asked for proposals that would use Pilbara mine dewatering to:

• Establish new Pilbara businesses

• Provide local training and employment

• Increase Indigenous ownership in profitable businessesbusinesses

Why are Leighton looking at a bottledl h lb ?

Royalties for Regions asked for proposals that

water plant in the Pilbara?

Royalties for Regions asked for proposals that would use Pilbara mine dewatering to:

• Increase local enterprise capability

• Create sustainable Pilbara communities

Leighton proposed the Pilbara Ripple Effect, with the Pilbara bottled water business project asthe Pilbara bottled water business project as Stage 1

What does the Project involve?

Leighton are required to:

• Identify all water sources suitable for bottling

• Identify the best water source for bottling

• Identify a Traditional Owner partner that• Identify a Traditional Owner partner that supports the project and wants a share in a Pilbara Bottled Water Business

• Confirm whether a profitable bottled water• Confirm whether a profitable bottled water business in the Pilbara is viable

What does the Project involve?

If a Pilbara bottled water business isIf a Pilbara bottled water business is considered viable, then:

•Secure private investorsSecure private investors

andand

•Establish a Pilbara bottled water business

What are the Essential Ingredients?

The most suitable water source will:

• Have good quality water (clean, uncontaminated)

H h d!•Have water that tastes good!

• Be in a good location (close to power transport• Be in a good location (close to power, transport, workforce etc)

• Be in the country of a Traditional Owner partner that supports the project and wants a share in athat supports the project and wants a share in a Pilbara bottled water business

What are the potential benefits?

• Currently all bottled water is imported in to the lb h b l d h l llPilbara.  This can be replaced with locally 

bottled Pilbara water.

• Local training and employment

• Traditional Owners can convert R4R funding to their share in a new profitable Pilbara bottledtheir share in a new profitable Pilbara bottled water business

What are the potential benefits?

• Increased indigenous business capability

• Non‐mining related employment

• Better value bottled water in the Pilbara

i l ilb b l d• Potential to export Pilbara bottled water to Perth and beyond

What is the potential long term benefits?

The Pilbara Bottled Water Project is theThe Pilbara Bottled Water Project is the first stage of a long term strategy for Government, Traditional Owners and Industry to jointly deliver sustainableIndustry to jointly deliver sustainable regional development in the Pilbara, with a focus on achieving local and indigenous benefits and outcomesbenefits and outcomes

The Pilbara Ripple Effect

What is the Pilbara Ripple Effect?

Project 1 – The Pilbara Bottled Water Project:

a. R4R funding is used to show if a profitable Pilbara bottled water business is viable

b. Traditional Owners support the project

c. Private Investment is secured

d. R4R funding becomes Traditional Owners’ share in the new Pilbara Bottled water businessin the new Pilbara Bottled water business

e.  Establish the new Pilbara bottled water business

a.

What is the Pilbara Ripple Effect?

Project 2 – Another new, different Pilbara Project:

a. More R4R funding + some profit from the Pilbara bottled water business is used to showPilbara bottled water business is used to show that another profitable Pilbara business is viableviable

b. Repeat steps b, c, d and e !!!b epeat steps b, c, d a d e

Project 3 – Do it all again!

From Little Things Big Things Grow:

The Pilbara Bottled Water ProjectThe Pilbara Bottled Water Project

From little things, big things grow.From little things, big things grow.THE PILBARA BOTTLED WATER PROJECT

Pilbara Bottled Water Opportunity

• Currently millions ofCurrently millions of plastic bottles in the PilbaraPilbara

• ALL end up in landfill orALL end up in landfill or litter roads and towns.  

• New end of life

k i• New Packaging ‐ PLA  

Biopolymers – What are they?Biopolymers  What are they?

Plastic derived from plant sugarsPlastic derived from plant sugars

Annually Renewable resource

Can be made from ANY plant sugars, including organic waste

Current feedstock from livestock feedCurrent feedstock from livestock feed mill – Long term Australia

Biopolymers – BenefitsBiopolymers  Benefits

l b l dAlmost carbon neutral at production

Greater than 90% reductionGreater than 90% reduction 

Fermentation requires little energyFermentation requires little energy

Biopolymers – BenefitsBiopolymers  Benefits

More Rec clableMore Recyclable

Mechanical – Existing InfrastructureMechanical  Existing Infrastructure

Chemical – Back to virgin resing

Biopolymers – New OpportunityBiopolymers  New Opportunity

A new end of life ‐ Recycling

Biopolymers – BenefitsBiopolymers  Benefits

More and better End of Life OptionsMore and better End of Life Options

Compostable – Breaks DOWN to organicCompostable  Breaks DOWN to organic matter not UP into little bits!

Incineration – Non toxic (Pyrolysis)

Going going gone in 80 daysGoing, going, gone in 80 days• Will utilise PLA bottles made 

from plants; not from oil as is PET

• Recyclable and compostable 10‐80 days vs. PET half life of over 250 years

• Manufactured in the Pilbara.

• Longer term ‐ convert to bioLonger term  convert to bio energy and fertiliser as part of closed loop solution

PET PLAPET PLA

Closing the Loop on the Nutrient Cycle

The Cool Change VisionThe Cool Change Vision

Bio PolymerBio Polymer Packaging

Slow FeederPyrolysis

Biochar & 

Crops

Electricity

Biochar Impact on Yield

1900mm

1200mm1200mm

Control corn (13t cob/ha)  Poultry litter biochar, 50t/Ha (35t cob/ha)/ ( / )

Sustainable Farming SystemsSustainable Farming Systems

i ili blOrganic Fertilizer vs. non renewable

Flow on benefits Increased Yield waterFlow on benefits – Increased Yield, water use efficiency, soil carbon, CEC, reduced GHG (NOX, CO2, Methane)

Alt ti t t t t O i &Alternative waste treatment – Organics & sewerage

Dry Feedstock Supply ChainDry Feedstock Supply Chain

Cassava? Farming for energyCassava? ‐ Farming for energy

Use of mine dewatering for irrigated crops toUse of mine dewatering for irrigated crops to supply dry feedstock

Develop Sustainable farming systems

St h Bi f l Bi l ti I d tStarch – Bio fuel, Bio plastics, Industry

BenefitsBenefits

Better environmental outcomeBetter environmental outcome

Requires no behavioural changeRequires no behavioural change

Sustainable Solution

New Indigenous Opportunities

From Little Things Big Things Grow: The Pilbara Bottled Water Project

From little things, big things grow.From little things, big things grow.THE PILBARA BOTTLED WATER PROJECT

With thanks to:

ContactJeremy ConnorM: 0439 305 772Questions? M: 0439 305 772E: jeremy.connor@leicon.com.au

Richard PatersonRichard PatersonM: 0438 549 402E: richard@c3l.com.au