Sunbury Recycled Water Plant upgrade begins

Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville has joined Member for Sunbury Josh Bull to announce the start of a $53 million upgrade of the Sunbury Recycled Water Plant.

Recycled wastewater produced at the plant is already used for irrigating crops and keeping sports grounds green year round. The upgrade will increase the volume of wastewater treated from 5.9 to 9.2 million litres a day, catering to high population growth expected in Sunbury and Diggers Rest.

Improvements to the treatment process will result in the plant producing higher quality recycled water, widening its potential uses, including for watering household gardens. This will save potable water supplies.

Furthermore, the innovative design of the project means the upgrade will remain within the footprint of the existing treatment plant. It will also reduce the amount of energy consumed per megalitre of effluent treated.

Local residents and stakeholders are closely involved in the project via a project reference group, which has been set up to provide input and feedback. The upgrade will also see more than 50 full- and part-time jobs during construction and operation phases, including apprentices and trainees.

The plant upgrade will be a key element in Western Water’s Integrated Water Cycle Management plan for Sunbury, which will support the Victorian water plan being announced later this year. The project is scheduled to finish in early 2018.