Sustainability Report 2006/07Sewerage transfer
Northern Sewerage project takes shape
Melbourne Water and our partners including Yarra Valley Water made significant progress on the Northern Sewerage Project.
The project involves the construction of 13 kilometres of deep tunnel sewers along the Merri Creek Valley from Coburg to Reservoir and the Moonee Ponds Creek at Pascoe Vale. It will cater for substantial growth in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and protect Merri Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek and the Yarra River from sewage spills.
During the year, design and commercial arrangements with contractors were finalised, substantial advances were made towards gaining planning approvals, a dedicated website was established for the project and residents were informed and consulted through community forums, individual meetings with the project team, and mailouts to individuals and the community broadly.
Tunnel-boring machines were procured, experienced tunneling contractors retained, a site office was established in Coburg for the project team, and the purchase of houses was negotiated to prepare for construction work, which is due to begin in August 2007 and will take five years to complete.
Replacing the Melbourne Main Sewer
In June 2007, the Victorian Government announced that Melbourne Water would replace the 110-year-old Melbourne Main Sewer, which links parts of the CBD and Docklands to the Hobsons Bay trunk sewer.
The 2.2-kilometre sewer runs from near the Charles Grimes Bridge on the Yarra River through South Melbourne and Port Melbourne.
In preparation for the announcement, Melbourne Water developed a concept design for crossing the Yarra River, completed geotechnical field investigations and laboratory testing, identified the required statutory approvals and consents, and continued determining key stakeholder and consultation requirements and the monitoring needed to assess the impact of works, which are due to begin in 2008 and continue for three years.