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Rows of solar panels on a hill at Winneke Water Treatment Plant, partly shadowed by clouds

How Melbourne Water is Investing in Our Planet

Melbourne Water joins the international community to mark Earth Day, and reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect our planet – for now and for the generations to come. 

Earth Day is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on how we are investing in our planet. Melbourne Water is taking strong and lasting action to protect the natural resources and reduce Victoria’s emissions to net zero by 2030 to ensure Melbourne remains a beautiful place to live; today, tomorrow and for generations to come. 

Melbourne Water is proud to be delivering projects that will not only reduce greenhouse emissions, but also produce renewable energy. Melbourne Water’s ambitious Climate Change Strategy and interim targets pledge is leading the way on emissions reductions with the construction of a new solar farm at the Winneke Water Treatment Plant in Melbourne’s north-east. The solar farm utilises state-of-the-art technology that will help drive down the running costs and play a significant part in its target to meet net-zero emission by 2030.  

The construction will keep Melbourne Water on track to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2030, while also seizing the opportunities of climate action – advancing technology and investing in a water secure future. 

Sunrise over Sugarloaf Reservoir, with rows of solar panels in the foreground

Melbourne Water is also working alongside retail water companies to deliver the Melbourne Sewerage Strategy to secure Victoria’s future water supply, making sure precious resources meet the challenges of a drying climate and the demands of a growing population. 

The Melbourne Sewerage Strategy - outlines a pathway to secure Victoria’s water future over the next 50 years in our sewerage treatment catchment systems. Work to deliver the Strategy includes building on the innovations at the Western Treatment Plant – to provide low-cost sewage treatment for Melbourne, generating its own electricity and produce billions of litres of recycled water every year.  

Melbourne Water harvests biogas and reuse bio-solids, turning waste streams into valuable resources to support incredible biodiversity and food production. The Western Treatment Plant uses natural treatment processes that rely on gravity and biological processes to treat sewage. 

At the heart of the innovation is Melbourne Water’s, Our Path to Net Zero program for the reduction of carbon emissions by 50% by 2024-25 and actively establishing practices and planned initiatives to provide safe and reliable water services and reduce the carbon footprint to net zero emissions by 2030. 
 
Importantly, the strategy is underpinned by strong partnerships with leaders equally passionate about tackling this challenge and the longstanding research programs, established relationships and networks in Australia and internationally to help Melbourne Water unlock more opportunity. 

Melbourne Water aims to continue to co-create innovations and technologies to make wastewater treatment greener as it looks towards a carbon neutral future for Melbourne and our planet. 

Media Contact
Sandra Aloi, Senior Media Advisor
  03 9679 7004
 [email protected]