Hobsons Bay sewer project claims Victorian Water Award

The Hobsons Bay Main Sewer Duplication Project was recently announced as the winner of the Victorian Water Award for infrastructure project innovation.

The Hobsons Bay Main Sewer is a critical part of Melbourne’s sewer network, transferring around 30 percent of Melbourne’s wastewater to the Western Treatment Plant.

The existing sewer was first constructed in the 1960s, located under the Yarra River between Westgate Park in Port Melbourne and Scienceworks in Spotswood.

To rehabilitate the existing sewer, Melbourne Water and John Holland built a duplicate sewer which will allow sewage flows to be diverted during rehabilitation works.

These critical works form part of a broader Melbourne Water sewer program on a number of ageing sewers around the city.

Since February 2022, the project team has established two construction sites at Scienceworks and Westgate Park.

Tunnelling works were completed when tunnel boring machine ‘Lucey’ completed her 670m journey under the Yarra River in November 2023.

The project, which is expected to conclude towards the end of this year, was named winner of the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (METRO) at the recent Victorian Water Awards gala dinner.

Organisers said innovation and creativity are at the heart of the Hobsons Bay Main Sewer Project delivering outstanding results in the areas of sustainability, social value and community.

Setting new benchmarks for best practice in the water industry, the project will be the first independently verified net-zero carbon infrastructure project in Australia.

The Victorian Water Awards honour members whose leadership, innovative research and projects significantly advance the water sector.

Australian Water Association chief executive Corinne Cheeseman commended the finalists and winners for their remarkable contributions to the sector.

“This year’s Victorian Water Awards winners exemplify what can be achieved when passion meets purpose,” she said.

“These projects demonstrate true organisational excellence and innovation, with each achievement highlighting the critical role of smart technology, sustainable practices and community engagement in shaping our sustainable water future.”

This year’s Victorian Water Award winners will go on to represent the state in the national Australian Water Awards, with winners presented at the AWA’s annual water conference and exhibition, Ozwater’25, in Adelaide.