North Yarra Main Sewer Rehabilitation Project - Ivanhoe East to Alphington

We’re upgrading 3.5kms of the North Yarra Main (NYM) Sewer between Yarra Flats Park, Ivanhoe East and Farms Rd, Alphington. Relining the sewer ensures a safe sewerage service for local homes and businesses – today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Why is this important?

The North Yarra Main Sewer transports sewage from Melbourne’s northeast to the Western Treatment Plant, where it is treated to protect the health of our environment and communities. The sewer was built in the early 1900s, and some sections are coming to the end of their working life.

Without improvements and innovations like these, Melbourne’s extensive sewerage network would reach capacity and our waste would impact on our environment.

Work alignment between Ivanhoe East and Alphington to the north of the Yarra river

What’s happening and when?

In late 2025, we will start major construction works to rehabilitate the North Yarra Main Sewer between Ivanhoe East and Alphington.

The rehabilitation of the sewer will involve:

cleaning, scanning and relining the sewer by inserting a new plastic sleeve into the existing pipe
constructing temporary and permanent access tracks to maintenance holes
rehabilitating ageing and damaged maintenance holes.

What to expect

Utilising ‘trenchless’ technology

To upgrade the sewer, we will use a trenchless technology technique called relining. This allows us to reline the inside of the sewer with new plastic sleeving – without having to dig it up.

This has several benefits, including:

greatly reducing the impacts on the important cultural and environmental values of the landscape we are working in
ensuring that disruptions and inconveniences at street level are kept to a minimum, and residents and businesses don’t have to worry about open trenches on their doorsteps
allowing upgrade works to be completed more quickly and efficiently compared to traditional trenching methods
ensuring the structural integrity of the sewer is maintained for decades to come.

Watch our video on sewer relining - YouTube

Access tracks to maintenance holes

Some maintenance holes are located in steep and difficult places. They can be up to 40m deep (equal to the height of a 15-storey building).

To complete the works, we must create access tracks for construction vehicles and machinery so they can safely and efficiently get to the maintenance holes. This may require earthworks in some areas due to the landscape.

Some access tracks will remain in place to enable ongoing maintenance activities to be performed safely. All temporary access tracks will be reinstated and planted over with grasses.

Construction impacts

As a guide, we have listed a number of potential impacts you may notice during major construction works:

Night works are needed for some of the relining works, as this is when traffic and sewage flows are at their lowest.
Noise: There will be a short-term increase in noise in the area, but we will do as much as possible to reduce the construction noise. We will monitor noise and dust levels throughout works to ensure they don’t exceed Environmental Performance Agency thresholds.
Odour: Some odour is expected when carrying out the works due to harmless gases escaping from the maintenance holes when they are opened. We aim to minimise and localise this as much as possible.
Traffic, parking, cyclists, and pedestrians: There will be temporary changes to traffic conditions, including lane closures, road closures and parking restrictions. Some work will occur within sports fields, parks and reserves. For your safety, work areas will be fenced, restricting access, while work is being completed. We encourage you to follow all directions and take care around work areas.
Cultural Heritage: Cultural heritage conservation is an important part of valuing and preserving our traditions and culture. Melbourne Water will comply with the Heritage Act for the delivery of each section of the works and engage with Traditional Owners throughout the project.
Environment: To safely access maintenance holes, there will be some instances where trees and vegetation need to be trimmed or removed.

We will make every effort to minimise the impact of these works on the local community and environment.

Reinstatement of affected areas

After the works are complete, we will focus on reinstating and rehabilitating areas affected by our work. This includes re-grassing and replanting, which will be undertaken in accordance with plans approved by Council and Parks Victoria.

When are we working?

Works will be undertaken at the following times:

Night works: 9pm to 7am, Sunday to Thursday
Day works: 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
Weekend hours: 9am to 3pm, Saturdays (if required).

We may occasionally need to undertake works out of hours. We will notify you in advance if this is required. Due to weather conditions and fluctuating sewer flows, the timing and dates are indicative and subject to change without notice.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during these essential works.