Students from Belmont Public School and Marks Point Public School have helped make history at Hunter Water’s Belmont Desalination Plant, officially naming the project’s tunnel boring machine after Australian diving champion and local icon Rhiannan Iffland.
The tunnel boring machine, affectionately known as Rhiannan, will excavate the underground tunnel forming the desalination plant’s seawater intake system. As it advances through the seabed, it will install reinforced concrete pipes to create a continuous tunnel, allowing Hunter Water to safely construct beneath the ocean floor while protecting the surrounding marine and coastal environment.
Once complete, the tunnel will supply seawater to the desalination plant, which will transform it into high-quality drinking water. The project will provide up to 30 million litres per day of rainfall-independent supply, strengthening the Hunter region’s resilience against drought and future population growth.
A fitting tribute to local talent and community pride
Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the naming reflects pride in both local achievement and regional innovation.
“Naming the tunnel boring machine after Rhiannan Iffland is a beautiful tribute to the local champion who has made waves on the global stage,” Catley said. “The Belmont Desalination Plant is a real game-changer for water security in the Hunter.”
Hunter Water Managing Director Darren Cleary said the naming initiative demonstrates the importance of community involvement in major infrastructure delivery.
“Engaging local students in naming the tunnel boring machine is a wonderful way to bring the community closer to the work we’re doing,” Cleary said. “Rhiannan’s courage, precision and determination mirror the qualities needed to deliver complex projects like the Belmont Desalination Plant.”
Rhiannan Iffland, who grew up in Lake Macquarie and attended Belmont High School, is the most decorated female athlete in cliff-diving history, holding nine World Series titles and six World Aquatics High Diving gold medals.
Encouraging STEM engagement through real-world projects
For Belmont Public School teacher Natalie Hunter-Leahy, the naming competition offered students a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world engineering and sustainability outcomes.
“This initiative highlights the power of education and community working together to protect our future,” Hunter-Leahy said. “The Belmont Desalination Plant offers students a firsthand look at how technology and sustainability work together to secure our most valuable resource, water.”
Hunter Water continues to prioritise community engagement and education as construction of the desalination plant progresses. The project, delivered in partnership with John Holland and STRABAG, showcases innovation in tunnelling methods, coastal protection and sustainable infrastructure design.