Our ambitious capital works program, with $37.3M spent in the past year, will ensure the region survives the drought. Major capital works projects in 2008/09 included a $13.3M main trunk sewer across the Toolern Creek at Melton South, a $13.3M capacity upgrade to the RWP at Melton and the new $7.5M Surbiton Park Class A RWP, directly connecting with the new residential development at Eynesbury and Harness Racing Victoria’s Tabcorp Park.
You can find information here about local projects and maintenance work in your area.
Reticulated water mains renewals and replacement
- This ongoing $4M project identifies and replaces ageing water reticulation systems. The program will help to reduce water loss through leakage and pipe bursts as well as help maintain water quality. $716k was spent during the year on 3.3km of water main replacements carried out in Sunbury, Macedon, Riddells Creek and Bacchus Marsh.
Top of Page
Bacchus Marsh Recycled Water Plant: $2.5 million
- The functional design for the upgrade to increase the capacity of the plant is complete. Construction commenced in late 2009 and will focus on aeration of the primary lagoon.
Top of Page
South Gisborne Outfall Sewer
- Due for completion in late 2009, Western Water is constructing a new $2.9M sewer line to service up to 1,000 new homes being built in Gisborne South in the years ahead.
- This is a major infrastructure upgrade for Gisborne and an investment in the future of the town as well as its outlying farm ventures which are increasingly reliant on access to recycled water.
Gisborne Recycled Water Plant Upgrade
- The Gisborne RWP upgrade was completed in August 2008, in line with Western Water’s strategic initiative to improve sewerage services across the region.
- The upgrade, costing $3.1M, involved the construction of a sedimentation tank, improvements to the aeration works and electrical and control systems. As a result, the plant’s capacity has increased from 1.1ML of recycled water per day to 2ML, and will ensure that peak loads are managed and treated effectively for the next 20 years.
- Water quality improvements have also been achieved through reductions in ammonia, total nitrogen and phosphorous levels, thereby improving quality and the potential uses for recycled water.
Top of Page
Loch Road Storage Tank
- This $2.3M project resulted in a new 3.5ML water storage tank being constructed in Loch Rd, Mt Macedon, seven times larger than the existing water storage tank.
- The new tank not only significantly increases the storage capacity of drinking water for residents of Mt Macedon and Macedon, it also reduces our reliance on pumps and will serve as an essential resource for local CFA fire fighting purposes.
Top of Page
Melton Recycled Water Plant Upgrade
- Construction is nearing completion on the $13.3M Melton RWP upgrade project to increase our capacity to treat sewage from Melton and surrounds. The upgrade will increase the treatment capacity of the plant from 9ML per day to 12.3ML per day.
- Recycled water, produced to a Class C standard at the plant, is also supplied to the Surbiton Park Class A RWP for further treatment. Melton RWP also produces biosolids, a nutrient rich organic material that can be used as a soil improver and fertiliser.
- During the year, close to $8M was spent on a new 39 metre diameter secondary sedimentation tank, new inlet works and provision of anoxic zones within the existing aeration works, required due to increase in flows.
- $12M has been allocated to Stage 2 of the RWP Upgrade program to provide additional aeration capacity, balancing storage and upgrades to effluent pump stations to cater for population growth.
Surbiton Park Class A Recycled Water Plant
- Western Water’s new $7.5M Surbiton Park Class A RWP is now operating at Melton following completion earlier this year. The project was jointly funded with $3.5M from the Victorian Government’s Water Recycling Fund, $1.75M contributed by the Eynesbury Development Joint Venture Group and the remainder provided by Western Water.
- The new plant provides Class A recycled water to the new 2,900-lot Eynesbury township for toilet flushing, garden watering, car washing, open space and recreational irrigation and fire fighting purposes.
- Provision of Class A recycled water could save precious drinking water in each household by up to 50% and this valuable new resource will be available to residential developments in the Melton South growth corridor and Toolern Precinct.
- The Surbiton Park Class A RWP can provide 5ML of recycled water daily to Eynesbury and is a model for water sensitive urban design. The plant has a modular design so that it can be easily expanded to deliver up to 15ML daily, with potential drinking water savings estimated at more than 4,200ML annually.
- The technologically advanced plant features a three barrier water treatment to treat recycled water to Class A standard. Processes included coagulation, microfiltration, ultraviolet disinfection and chloramination.
- In microfiltration, the water passes through tubes 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. During UV disinfection, the water is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light 1,000 times more intense than the UV in sunlight. The plant has been operational since October 2008 and construction of the works took 12 months.
Melton Sewerage Upgrade and Toolern Creek Bridge
- Work is almost completed on the construction of the new $13.3M, 6km gravity sewer main catering for the growing population of the Melton and Melton South region.
- The project has taken 18 months and will cater for projected population growth of approximately 4,000 households through to 2030 as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing the pumping station at Blamey Drive.
- As part of the project, in late June, a new bridge was lowered into place across Toolern Creek. The 48 metre, 90 tonne bridge houses the new Melton outfall sewer pipe and a pedestrian walkway connecting Blamey Drive to Bridge Road in Melton South and the proposed Toolern Creek Regional Park.
- The dual purpose bridge will enable Western Water to continue to provide excellent sewerage services to the growing population of Melton while preserving the local environment and is part of the development of the new Toolern Regional Park.
Surbiton Park Pipeline to Melton South / Harness Racing Victoria's Tabcorp Park
- Works were completed in May on this $2.1M project to build a new 7km pipeline to carry Class A recycled water to Melton South and Harness Racing Victoria’s (HRV) site, Tabcorp Park.
- The project was successfully brought forward through a highly collaborative partnership between HRV, Western Water, Melton Shire Council and the State Government.
- The pipeline will also service new industrial developments at Toolern, bringing jobs, industry and new water smart urban design to the region.
- Western Water committed $1.44M to the pipeline and other infrastructure works associated with the extension of its Class A recycled water scheme into the Toolern area.
- The overall capacity of the pipeline has made 18ML of Class A recycled water available for use at HRV with further recycled water to be made available for other customers along its route during 2009/10.
- An additional $2M is allocated to construct a 5ML balancing storage of Class A recycled water for the system that supplies Eynesbury, Harness Racing Victoria and the Toolern region.
Surbiton Park Recycled Water Plant Upgrade - Cogeneration Plant
- $2M is allocated for construction of a $13M cogeneration plant to augment the power and thermal energy needs of the plant from the combustion of methane produced in the anaerobic digester. Due for completion in 2010/11.
Ferris Road Freeway Crossing
- $450,000 is being spent on water main work at Ferris Road Freeway crossing in Melton for replacement of the existing twin 150mm mains with one 300mm to improve water supply south of the freeway.
Coburns Road / Rees Road Railway Crossing
- $500k has been earmarked to extend a 600mm water main 1,625 metres south from Coburns Road to service development in the south of Melton.
Top of Page
Riddells Creek Recycled Water Project
- Completed in May 2009, this project consisted of the construction of a 2km pipeline and an associated pump station to provide recycled water from the Riddells Creek RWP to the Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve. The reserve includes facilities for the Football Club, Pony Club and the Dog Club.
- Partners in the project are the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Regional Development Victoria, Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve Committee of Management and other community groups. During the year, Western Water invested $500k in this project.
Top of Page
Romsey Water Filtration Plant Membrane Replacement
- The continuous microfiltration process at the Romsey Pant requires routine replacement of the membranes to maintain water quality approximately every five years. Following over five years of reliable service, the existing membranes were replaced at the cost of $322k. The project also included the installation of microstrainers to protect the membranes.
Top of Page
Sunbury Recycled Water Storage Tank
- $1.8M has been spent constructing a 9ML recycled water storage tank at Sunbury RWP. This will enable recycled water to be consistently supplied throughout the year for community parks, schools, sporting grounds and local farms. The storage proved invaluable over the peak season in summer.
Sunbury Recycled Water Dewatering Facility
- $1.8M is allocated to replace the dewatering facility
Top of Page
Woodend Recycled Water Plant Upgrade
- Woodend RWP has recently received a $6.1M upgrade to improve the quality and amount of recycled water for Woodend's parks, sporting grounds and local agriculture providing up to 2ML of recycled water per day.
- This upgrade will ensure that the plant continues to meet EPA water quality requirements as the treatment process changes from lagoon based treatment to activated sludge.
Top of Page