Works to construct and connect the new sewer system to the existing network are now complete. The project team will focus on reinstatement works with both project sites in Richmond and Hawthorn being handed back to the community in early 2023. The project team would like to thank the community for its support and patience during construction – it is greatly appreciated.

Why this is important

The Hawthorn Main Sewer is a vital part of Melbourne’s infrastructure, constructed over 100 years ago in 1903. It transfers sewage to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee for treatment.

To keep this vital asset functioning into the future, works were needed to replace the existing Hawthorn Main Sewer Siphon that runs under the Yarra River. A siphon is a wastewater pipe that enables sewage flows under low-lying areas or obstructions like rivers, where flow by gravity is difficult.

Map of project area, showing no public access on Murphy Street (east of River Street) and Creswick Street (south of Denham Street), where the site compounds are located.
Map of project site, showing public access, closures and site compounds.

 

What’s happening and when

We replaced the sewer siphon and decommissioned the existing asset. This involved using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), which bores through the ground and progressively installs large concrete ‘jacking’ pipes behind it. These pipes will now host the new sewer siphon.

The process involved:

  1. Excavating shafts on Creswick Street (Hawthorn) and Murphy Street (Richmond) to launch a tunnel boring machine.
  2. Lowering a machine into the Hawthorn shaft, from where it will tunnel towards the Richmond shaft.
  3. Pumping excavated material from the machine’s face to the surface, where the slurry material is separated. The liquid is recycled back into the machine and the solid material is removed from site by trucks.
  4. Completing the new sewer siphon, which is housed in the jacking pipes installed behind the TBM.
  5. Connecting the new siphon to the existing network, and decommissioning the old asset.

Project timeline

Complete
 

Feb-Mar 2021

Site establishment. 

Complete
 

Mid-March to Sept/Oct 2021

Shaft excavation. 

Complete
 

Late March/early April 2021

Piling - Richmond side only.

Complete
 

Sept/Oct 2021 to Dec 2021

Tunnelling.

Complete
 

Jan to April 2022

Pipe install in tunnel and backfill.

Complete
 

April to July 2022

Hand tunnel and install pipework between original siphon and new shaft. Install additional maintenance hole pipework and infrastructure and continue to backfill the shaft

Complete
 

Late June to September 2022

Undertake activities to connect project infrastructure to operational network and assets.

Started
 

Oct 2022 to Early 2023

Reinstatement activities to be completed by early 2023.

What to expect

We do not anticipate any impacts to your water or sewerage services during the works.
If you experience an issue with your sewerage service, contact your water retailer: Yarra Valley Water (132 762) or City West Water (132 642).

Where possible, the team will seek to minimise impacts and inconveniences. Further details of the expected experience of our works can be found below.

Work impacts

  • Work hours:
    • Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
    • Saturday as required, between 7am and 1pm
      Quiet work outside these hours will include arriving at site, tidying up, office work and checking on site safety.
  • Noise: the works will be noisy, particularly the shaft excavation (including piling) and above-ground activity needed for tunnelling. We will implement mitigation measures where possible.
  • Odour: no odour is expected during most of the works. The only time a minimal amount of odour may be experienced is when the new sewer pipe is connected to the existing manhole.
  • Vibration: shaft excavation and piling will cause vibration, and real-time vibration monitors will be in place to manage the levels and where it is experienced. We do not expect vibration to impact nearby properties.

Access changes

  • Traffic changes:
    • Creswick Street will be closed to traffic at Bridge Road and Denham Street.
    • Murphy Street will be closed to traffic between River Street and the Yarra River’s embankment.
  • Driveways: we expect to maintain private property driveway access, but will notify you if short-term driveway closure is needed.
  • Rowing clubs: access at Denham Street and Creswick Street will be maintained for most of the works. We will notify the rowing clubs if the driveway is to be closed due to works at the existing manhole.
  • Footpaths: one footpath on Creswick Street between Bridge Road and Denham Street will be closed.
  • Trucks:
    • Hawthorn: most truck traffic will access the site from Bridge Road. Some vehicles will need to access from Denham and Creswick Streets – we will limit this when possible.
    • Richmond: access to the site will be via River Street, Murphy Street and Crown Street.

Contact us

If you have feedback or would like more information about this project, contact us:

1800 512 388

[email protected]

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