Almost 65 years after the original Hobsons Bay main sewer was built for carrying more than 30% of Melbourne’s wastewater to the Western Treatment Plant (WTP), tunnelling work to build Melbourne’s newest sewer pipeline has begun, with TBM Lucey.
The TBM Lucey was named by the students at the nearby Spotswood Primary School after Lucey Alford, the first female bacteriologist and scientist employed by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works – now known as Melbourne Water.
The new 670 m Hobsons Bay main sewer will stretch from Westgate Park in Port Melbourne to Science works in Spotswood, under the Yarra River.
The EUR122.41 million (AUD206 million) Melbourne Water-funded critical sewage infrastructure project allows sewage to continue to flow to its Western Treatment Plant while the existing sewer – which is reaching the end of its service life – has to be upgraded.
The Hobsons Bay main sewer project forms part of a broader Melbourne Water capital infrastructure program that will enhance the reliability of Melbourne sewerage network and services. Melbourne is projected to nearly double in population by 2050. This project ensures city's infrastructure is keeping up with future demand.
The Hobsons Bay main sewer pipeline, which aims to achieve a net zero carbon footprint, will be located at depths between 24.5 m and 27 m below the surface of the Yarra, will be positioned alongside its existing twin and will provide a significant increase in sewer capacity.
This is a joint initiative delivered by the Victorian Government, Melbourne Water, John Holland and Museums Victoria. Melbourne Water granted the contract to John Holland Group on November 2021. Since February 2022, the project team has established two construction sites at science works and Westgate Park. Diaphragm walls and piling for shaft construction are now complete and major works are continuing.
The project is due for completion in mid-2024. Click here for a video. Visit https://www.melbournewater.com.au and https://johnholland.com.au/. 32/23.
