Melbourne Water has revealed a sneak peak into the new Hobsons Bay Main Sewer tunnel in Victoria.
The $206 million Melbourne Water-funded infrastructure project allows sewage to continue to flow to its Western Treatment Plant while the existing sewer is upgraded.
The water utility successfully tunnelled around 20m deep and 670m in length across the Yarra River between Scienceworks in Spotswood and Westgate Park, Port Melbourne and built a second sewer pipeline.
This will allow sewage flows to be diverted during works on the existing pipeline as well as providing extra capacity for future demand on Melbourne’s sewerage system.
In November 2023, tunnel boring machine Lucey finished her journey and broke through. The TBM travelled under the Yarra River before breaking through.
Tunnelling first began in August 2023, with Lucey named by the students at the nearby Spotswood Primary School after Lucey Alford, the first female bacteriologist and scientist employed by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works – now known as Melbourne Water.
“The Hobsons Bay main sewer project forms part of a broader Melbourne Water capital infrastructure program that will enhance the reliability of our sewerage network and services for the benefit of Melburnians today and for generations to come,” Melbourne Water managing director Nerina Di Lorenzo said at the time.
“We’re looking towards the future and anticipating the evolving needs of a growing Melbourne – which is projected to nearly double in population by 2050. This project ensures our infrastructure is keeping up with future demand.”
A joint initiative by the VIC government, Melbourne Water, John Holland and Museums Victoria, the project is expected to complete by mid-2024.
Watch the video below.
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