Advancing operations at our Altona Treatment Plant
When the plant was built by the former Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works in 1968, Altona was still an outlying area. Main and trunk sewers were not constructed in the area at that time, so the Board of Works constructed a stand alone Altona Treatment Plant.
Now the plant serves just over 20,000 properties in the Altona, Altona Meadows, Laverton and Point Cook areas and treats a flow of approximately 12 megalitres of sewage a day, or approximately 5 olympic sized swimming pools.
Upgrade of the plant
In 2003, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approved an upgrade to the plant so that we could improve the quality of the treated sewage. The upgrade, which was completed in 2006, involved constructing a new plant that treats the wastewater to a higher standard than could be achieved by the original plant and also helps us meet strict environmental regulations.
We are pleased to report the Altona Treatment Plant achieved 100% compliance with all EPA Victoria licence requirements for 2007-08.
Beautifying the plant
We have been liaising with the community and have conducted surveys and focus groups in the Altona area to hear the community’s views on improving the appearance and natural values of the site.
This information was used to help us develop a landscape plan for the Altona Treatment Plant to achieve a visually pleasing improvement to the site.
The landscape was completed in 2007-08 with the planting of trees and the protection of native grasses.
Altona Treatment Plant Community Liaison Committee
We meet regularly with the Altona Treatment Plant Community Liaison Committee to discuss the plant operations, plant upgrade works and other issues of concern to the local community.
The Committee includes members of the local community and representatives of the EPA and Hobsons Bay City Council.
Altona Recycled Water Project
The Altona Recycled Water Project aims to supply 2.5 billion litres per year of Class A recycled water to industry and golf courses in the Altona area.
The project involves designing, constructing and operating a recycled water treatment plant at the Altona Treatment Plant. New pipelines from the Altona Treatment Plant will then connect industrial company Qenos, the Kooringal and Sanctuary Lakes Golf Courses and Altona Green Reserve to the recycled water supply.
We anticipate that recycled water will be available to these customers by December 2010.