Central Highlands Water (CHW) has successfully completed Stage 1 of the Ballarat Sewer Build.
Stage 1 of the project commenced in April 2021 and required an investment of more than $25 million into the Ballarat region.
The team at CHW faced many challenges throughout the project including construction interruptions due to COVID-19 and severe weather events, and the company thanked the community for its ongoing patience and understanding.
“The understanding shown by both our business community and residents has made a highly complex project achievable,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Stage 1 of the project saw the installation of around 1 km of sewer pipe, between4 and 6 me beneath the CBD, along Peel Street, Eastwood Street and Anderson Streets and East and West.
The construction process involved the compaction of more than 13,000 t of rock and two micro-tunnels bored beneath critical traffic intersections.
Microtunnelling techniques were used where possible to minimise ground disturbance; however, attempts at Little Bridge Street were unsuccessful due to unstable ground conditions and open-trench methods were necessary.
Around 220m3 of concrete was poured in the three large sewer connections made into the existing network.
The project took the CHW a total of 22,000 working hours.
Stage 2 of the Ballarat Sewer Build will cover White Flat Oval to Rest Street, and is expected to commence in 2022.
When all stages are complete, the Ballarat Sewer Build will duplicate the existing sewer line from Ballarat East to South.
According to CHW, the pipeline duplication will service the community for another 100 years.
For more information visit the Central Highlands Water website.