Research and read an article on recent recipients of the project management institute’s project of the year award (2013 PMI winners – Adelaide Desalination Project). Summarize how the project manager or team exhibited exceptional and ethical project management practices. Discuss the role of the project manager or team, the organizational setting, the recipient’s approach to project integration management, and obstacles that had the potential of adversely impacting the triple constraints Ugbe Maurice Ugbe Stratford University (Falls Church, Virginia)
Abstract
The Adelaide Desalination Project involves the construction of a 100 GL per annum desalination plant, including the seawater intake and outfall tunnels and structures, and associated infrastructure including the transfer pipeline, power supply works and interconnection and upgrade works at Happy Valley Water Treatment Plant.

Research and read an article on recent recipients of the project management institute’s project of the year award (2013 PMI winners – Adelaide Desalination Project). Summarize how the project manager or team exhibited exceptional and ethical project management practices. Discuss the role of the project manager or team, the organizational setting, the recipient’s approach to project integration management, and obstacles that had the potential of adversely impacting the triple constraints.
Introduction
Traditionally, South Australia has always relied on the River Murray for much of its water. On average 40% of Adelaide’s water supply comes from the River Murray, but in a drought year as much as 90% of the supply may come from this one finite resource. With further population growth, a secure water supply was under serious threat. In 2009, the South Australian Government launched the Water for Good plan. A key component of this plan was a $1.824 billion construction of a desalination plant to secure long-term and climate independent sustainable water supplies for South Australia, and to reduce the State’s reliance on the River Murray and other rain-dependent sources. Many conditions were attached to the final development approval which required strict environmental management and monitoring to ensure the construction and operational phases of the project meet the strict environmental performance expectations from the client and EPA.
Adelaide Desalination Project Background The security of Adelaide’s Metropolitan water supply is largely influenced by climate variability and compounded by limited local water storage capacity in the Adelaide Hills (approximately 1 year’s supply). Due to the drought and the effects of climate change, security of this water supply has become an issue of critical significance. In response to this, the Desalination Working Group (DWG) was established by the State Government in March 2007 to assess the feasibility of large-scale desalination for Adelaide. In its final report (issued September 2007) the DWG recommended the construction of a 50 GL per annum seawater desalination plant to supply the predicted shortfall in Adelaide’s water supply. Cabinet endorsed the DWG Report in December 2007. Full Financial Approval for the 50 GL per annum Desalination Plant was granted by Cabinet on 10 November 2008 and the Parliamentary Public Works Committee report was tabled on 19 November 2008. In April 2009, taking account of the water security needs, the State Government sought to double the capacity of the Adelaide Desalination plant to 100 GL per annum. In May 2009, the Commonwealth Government announced $228 million grant to support the expansion of the desalination plant. In early June 2009, the South Australian Government approved the 100 GL per annum expansion works at an estimated capital expenditure of $1.824 billion (nominal dollars). The Handover for Operations milestone for the full project - including the 100 GL/a expansion works - remains on track and within the original Cabinet and Parliamentary Public Works Committee approval date of end December. Areas Where Project Managers Exhibited Exceptional and Ethical Project Management Practices Throughout the project, the local community had been engaged. Approximately 15,000 people have attended sessions at the on-site temporary visitor center and off-site at various presentation sessions, where they have been able to view the scale and size of the project and /or speak to key project staff. Feedback from visitors about the project has been outstandingly positive, especially the commitment made and delivery of above target environmental compliance. Project lessons have been captured and tracked throughout the project and they have been used to inform each project phase. For example, comprehensive learnings from the first 50GL/a plant were used to inform works on the second 50 GL/a plant, ensuring efficiency and further reducing risk. Internally, SA Water staff has also delivered knowledge sharing seminars on various aspects of the project including tunneling, desalination processes and environmental and marine management. The collaborative client-contractor-operator relationship has also ensured key learnings have been shared amongst all of these parties and this process will continue through the 24 month warranty phase of the project. Role and Organizational Setting of Project Managers. The Defects Management System (DMS) is working well and weekly walk-down inspections and meetings continue to “hunt” for defects to track, record, and monitor progressive resolution and close-out of defects. Facilities (Area by area) inspections were undertaken as at the end of October 2012. These inspections will integrate into the DMS system any new defects incorporated for further sign-off prior to formal Project Handover to the O&M Operator. During September 2012, Adelaide Aqua identified that short-circuiting in the Treated Water Storage and implemented a solution to overcome this. This has achieved a significant improvement for mixing/dispersion capabilities in the Treated Water Storage.

Conclusion

Adelaide Aqua has focused efforts on commissioning of the plant and closure of Defects. Adelaide Aqua has finalized the Process Testing, Operational Tests, Performance Tests and finally the reliability tests for both the 50GL and 100GL plants. Also, Adelaide Aqua has achieved closure on a significant number of defects, with only a minor number of defects left to be closed. Practical completion was achieved on 8 November 2012 and progress is being made toward achieving project handover prior to the end of December 2012.

References
Dupavillon, J., and Gillanders, B. (2009). Impacts of seawater desalination on the giant Australian cuttlefish Sepia apama. Marine Environmental Research 67, 207-218.
SA Water (2009) Proposed Adelaide Desalination Plant Environmental Impact Statement, Government of South Australia.
Kämpf, J. and Clarke, B. (2012). How robust is the environmental impact assessment process in South Australia? Behind the scenes of the Adelaide seawater desalination project. Marine Policy. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CHAQFjA url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.environment.gov.au%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fpages%2F077dd73b-8850-4d2f-b1f4-883b82955229%2Ffiles%2Ffinal-report-adelaide-desalination-project.pdf&ei=osqYU7SvHoWkyATA54CoBQ&usg=AFQjCNE7nLDW7-odtXjSVYD7PrqUqkz44g&sig2=RfvBKrTYilia_MwcQ_RWTQ Retrieved on 06/10/2014