Ballarat’s two largest sewer lines, Ballarat East and Ballarat South, were constructed almost 100 years ago.
These sewer lines are now in the process of upgrade, where both will be duplicated over the next 3-5 years with the new lines installed parallel to the existing sewer.
Central Highlands Water (CHW) has invested $25 million into the major project, and the upgrade is intended to service the Ballarat community for another 100 years.
Stage one of the project commenced in mid-Aril 2021 with open excavation and microtunnelling in the CBD area.
Microtunnelling techniques were used where possible to minimise ground disturbance; however, attempts at Little Bridge Street were unsuccessful due to ground conditions and excavation was instead necessary.
CHW was to install a 600 mm diameter sewer pipe 4.5 m beneath Peel Street, from Scott Parade to Little Bridge Street.
CHW announced the completion of the CBD section on Friday 8 August, with construction now continuing on Peel Street heading south.
CHW Project Manager Mick Dwyer said the work on the CBD section had been both crucial and challenging.
“This critical section through the Ballarat CBD was always going to be one of the most complex, due to the proximity of Peel Street businesses to the sewer path plus the difficult ground conditions beneath the surface.”
“The need to change our approach at the Little Bridge Street intersection was unforeseen, even with the significant amount of investigation works completed prior,” he said.
For more information visit the Central Highlands Water website.