$130 million upgrade for Brisbane's oldest sewer

Queensland Urban Utilities has announced that Brisbane’s oldest sewer pipe will receive a $130 million upgrade in one of the most unique sewer projects ever undertaken in Australia.

The historic S1 Main Sewer, which turns 100 this year, will be rehabilitated in conjunction with the Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade to minimise the impact on traffic and the community.

Queensland Urban Utilities Chief Executive Officer Louise Dudley said it will be a challenging project due to the age, size and depth of the pipe.

“The S1 Main Sewer carries 60% of the city’s sewage, spans 1.5 m in diameter and is buried eight storeys beneath the ground,” she said.

“We’ll be using the latest trenchless technology to reline the old concrete pipe with a new pipe made from polyethylene.

“It makes sense for council and Queensland Urban Utilities to join forces on this project to minimise the impact of the sewer and roadworks on this busy corridor.”

The project will involve relining a 5.7 km section of the sewer from James Street in Fortitude Valley to the Eagle Farm pump station in Bunya Street.

It will take place in several phases, with the first starting in early March between Hunt Street and Riverview Terrace, before the Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade begins.

“These essential works will extend the operational life of the pipe by at least another 50 years,” Dudley said.

“This is the next chapter in the S1 Main Sewer’s interesting history. Built by miners using traditional tunnelling methods, the pipe took three years to build and was a feat of engineering in its day.”

The majority of the sewer works will be carried out between 8 pm and 5 am to minimise disruption to traffic.