Wastewater treatment in Melbourne’s west is about to be transformed thanks to a $711 million investment to modernise the plant to ensure the health and sanitation needs of Victoria’s growing population are met for generations to come.

VIC Minister for Water Harriet Shing recently announced the start of works on a new Resource Recovery and Re-Use Complex — the first major milestone in the modernisation of the Western Treatment Plant.

“Innovation and efficiency in wastewater treatment has enabled Victoria to lead in adaptation to climate change, our circular economy and delivering large-scale improvements to liveability. And better wastewater treatment means we’re also well-equipped to manage the challenges of population growth,” said Shing.

Melbourne’s population is set to double by 2050 and the upgraded Western Treatment Plant is key to ensuring Melbourne’s infrastructure is equipped to meet future demands.

The project is set to deliver an additional 95 billion litres per year in primary treatment capacity.

The Western Treatment Plant is a world leader in environmentally-friendly sewage treatment, and one of Victoria’s most unlikely hidden treasures — doubling as a working farm and internationally-recognised bird habitat, including some of the world’s species such as the critically, orange-bellied parrot and growling grass frog.

When it was first established in the 1890s, the Western Treatment Plant transformed Melbourne’s public health and sanitation and now it processes more than 182,500 million litres every year while using a low-cost, low-energy treatment process.

The Resource Recovery and Re-Use Complex will enhance sewage treatment, minimise odours, capture carbon, and manage waste sustainably.

For more information, visit www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/climate-change/our-path-net-zero.