prioritisation of alternative transport routes and connections within the same regional corridors. Under different sensitivity cases, the optimisation favours different links or routing options between the same functional components of the network, while preserving the overall topology and spatial extent of the system. These variations reflect adjustments in the relative preferences embedded in the cost representation rather than structural changes to the network. The results show low variability in the main regional corridor configuration. This stability is largely explained by the consideration of existing infrastructure and established access routes, which reduce construction complexity and logistical constraints. Consequently, the optimisation consistently prioritises alignments that leverage current infrastructure footprints. The variability observed across sensitivity cases is mainly reflected in marginal differences in total system costs and in the preferred access points to desalination sources, rather than in the configuration of the central corridor itself. Taken together, the results demonstrate a clear progression from general, scenarioindependent findings to more specific, assumption-dependent outcomes. At the strategic level, shared desalinated water infrastructure consistently underpins the regional supply networks for both 2035 and 2045. At the tactical level, sensitivity analyses influence routing and connection preferences without altering the core structure of the system. This hierarchy of results provides a structured basis for interpreting the robustness of the findings and for informing subsequent planning and decision-making processes under uncertainty. Figure 3 – Optimal water network for scenario 2035
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