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Bringing recycled water to Doncaster Hill

We're committed to finding new ways to provide sustainable water supplies for the community. So we're planning a new water recycling facility in Melbourne’s east.

The new facility will provide recycled water to about 6,000 households in Doncaster Hill, as well as to local sports grounds and parks. It’s part of our plan to make better use of our existing water sources in a time of climate uncertainty and less reliable rainfall. Using recycled water will help us to save 2.5 million litres of precious drinking water every week.

Next steps

We have now received the necessary planning and environmental approvals to construct the water recycling facility within the Tram Road Reserve. Prior to construction commencing we’ll complete further preparation works in the reserve to meet approval conditions. We expect these works to commence in 2025. 

We’ll share further information with the community and on this web page as we progress.

Sign up for project updates

Where is Tram Road Reserve?

This map shows the location of Tram Road Reserve. It is located within the Koonung Creek Linear Park, near the outbound on-ramp from Tram Road to the Eastern Freeway.

Site Locations Map
Site locations - Tram Road Reserve

 

Below is an artist’s impression of how a possible underground facility at Tram Road Reserve might look.

Tram Road Reserve (artist impression)
Underground facility at Tram Road Reserve (artist's impression)

Read more about how community consultation helped to establish the preferred location for the site, including the findings of the Independent Panel Report from 2017.

View project history

Want to know more about the community engagement we undertook to prepare our applications?

Visit consultation website

Updates

January 2024

On 12 December 2023, Manningham Council, having considered all objections, awarded a planning permit for the water recycling facility. A video recording of the meeting, along with the minutes detailing the permit conditions, can be found on Manningham Council's website

 

May 2023

The decision from Manningham Council regarding our planning permit application remains pending. You can check the progress of our application on Manningham Council’s website by searching using this reference number - PLN22/0109.

In light of this, we’ve been reviewing our proposed project timelines. If we receive Council approval, construction of the facility is now predicted to commence in 2025.

For further information about the project please contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours (9 am – 5 pm, Monday-Friday), or email [email protected].

February 2023

On 27 January EPA Victoria issued a Development Licence for our proposed facility.

The decision from Manningham Council regarding the planning permit application is still pending. You can check the progress of our planning permit application on Manningham Council’s website by searching using this reference number - PLN22/0109.

For further information about the project please contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours (9 am – 5 pm, Monday-Friday), or email [email protected].

November 2022

Manningham Council and EPA Victoria are still assessing our applications.

You can check the progress of our planning permit application on Manningham Council’s website by searching using this reference number - PLN22/0109.

You can also check the progress of our EPA Development Approval on the Engage Victoria website. Our EPA Development Licence application number is APP014560.

In June we advertised for expressions of interest from potential contractors to build the water recycling facility. We received submissions from several qualified and experienced contractors and are now in the process of shortlisting our preferred contractors. These contractors will be invited to submit tenders should we receive the relevant Council and EPA approvals.

For further information about the project please contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours (9 am – 5 pm, Monday-Friday), or email [email protected]

September 2022

Our Planning Permit and Development Licence applications closed for public comment on 19 August. Manningham Council and EPA Victoria are now considering the feedback received.

Please check in on progress with our planning permit application on Manningham Council’s website by searching using this reference number - PLN22/0109.

Please check in on progress with our EPA Development Approval on the Engage Victoria website. Our EPA Development Licence application number is APP014560.

For further information about the project you’re welcome to contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected].

 

August 2022

Manningham Council and EPA Victoria have now advertised our Planning Permit and  Development Licence applications for public comment in The Age and the Herald Sun on 29 July.

You can find our planning permit application on Manningham Council’s website by searching with this reference number - PLN22/0109.

Our EPA Development Licence application number is APP014560. Please visit the Engage Victoria website where you can find our application.

For further information about the project you’re welcome to contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected].

 

June 2022

Manningham Council and EPA Victoria continue to assess our Planning Permit and our Development Licence applications.

We’ve also been preparing an Expression of Interest (EOI) to shortlist potential tenderers to construct our underground water recycling facility should we receive the relevant Council and EPA approvals. This is usual practice in project planning and delivery.  

We advertised the EOI on 20 June and prospective tenders will need to get their applications to us within two months. Tenderers will need to have experience with design and construction of water treatment facilities and water retaining structures as well as a proven track record delivering large capital infrastructure projects.

As we’ve advised in our May update, the reference number of our Planning Permit application is PLN22/0109. The application can be found on Manningham Council’s website by searching with this reference number.

Our EPA Development Licence application number is APP014560. EPA will advertise our application on their website once they have completed their initial assessment.

If you have any questions about the application processes, you can contact Council or the EPA on the websites linked above.

For further information about the project you’re welcome to contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected].

May 2022

As we’ve previously shared, we have now submitted our Planning Permit application to Manningham Council and our Development Licence application to EPA Victoria.

The next steps involve these organisations completing an initial assessment of the applications to confirm they contain all the relevant information. Once they are satisfied with our applications, they will advertise them and their supporting documentation to the public. The timing of this isn’t yet determined.

The reference number of our Planning Permit application is PLN22/0109.  The application can be found on Manningham Council’s website by searching with this reference number.

Our EPA Development Licence application number is APP014560. EPA will advertise our application on their website once they have completed their initial assessment.

If you have any questions about the application processes, you can contact Council or the EPA on the websites linked above.

For further information about the project you’re welcome to contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected].

March 2022

We’ve submitted our applications for planning and environmental approvals to Manningham Council and Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria).

Our submissions provide the information that will enable Council and EPA Victoria to assess the planning and environmental management aspects of the project. The applications bring together:

  • The proposed concept for the underground water recycling facility
  • Results of our site investigations at Tram Road Reserve that we have previously shared with the community, covering ecology, arboriculture, cultural heritage and more
  • Our analysis of potential environmental impacts such as noise and odour, and how we’ll manage them to reduce community risks 
  • Our proposed approach to working with Council on the final ‘look and feel’ of the reserve
  • Community and stakeholder feedback, and how this has been considered.
February 2022

In October and November 2021 we shared elements of our preliminary proposal for the Doncaster Hill underground water recycling facility, including:

  • Our approach for vehicle access to the reserve during construction and once the facility is operational
  • Our proposed design for the above-ground buildings

We set up a dedicated website that included an ideas wall to enable people to leave their comments and suggestions and we held four webinars. There were 27 ideas and comments posted by the community on the ideas wall and more than 50 questions raised in the webinars and via emails and calls to the project team. While we were unable to hold in-person community information sessions to stay COVID-safe, we offered the opportunity for people without internet access to book a phone call with the project team.

The proposed design, which emphasises restoring the reserve as close as possible to its current state, is largely seen as positive by the community. Additionally, using Whittens Lane for construction traffic is also seen as positive, as long as the lane is closed to Tram Road again once construction concludes. Some people remain opposed to the project, raising issues we’ve heard and discussed with them in previous engagements.

You can read more about the engagement activities in our activity report.

We’ll share further information with the community as the approval process progresses.

October 2021

We’re now working on our proposal for the planning and environmental approvals needed to allow the project to proceed. We’re aiming to submit these applications to Manningham Council and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria later this year.

We have now developed our preliminary proposal, including:

  • Our approach for vehicle access to the Reserve during construction and once the facility is operational

  • Our proposed design for the above-ground buildings

We’ve created a dedicated consultation website to share the elements of these proposals with you and get your feedback. Your ideas will help us shape our submissions to the planning authorities.

Visit the consultation website

September 2021

We’re continuing to prepare our planning and environmental applications for an underground water recycling facility in Tram Road Reserve.

To help with developing these applications, we need to undertake some investigations into the soil and ground conditions at 6 Whittens Lane. This will help us understand the suitability for using the land to build an access road into the Reserve.

We’ve distributed a notice about these works to residents living nearby.

Works will commence on Tuesday 14 September between 8am – 5pm and take three days to complete, weather permitting.

View the Information Bulletin about the works

For more information about the history and background of the project:

Visit the consultation website

August 2021

In earlier updates we advised that we anticipated submitting our applications for planning and EPA Victoria approvals mid this year, and that we would hold further community consultation then too.

Work on these applications has taken longer than originally planned because we’ve been working closely with Manningham Council, EPA and the Department of Transport to gather their feedback on some of the technical inputs we’ll need to include in our submissions. These include construction vehicle access and what the facility would look like. 

We’re now aiming to submit our applications in the last quarter of the year.

Before we submit our applications, we’ll share the details with the community, which will include opportunities to review and provide input.

We’ll provide another update on our progress in September.

Visit the consultation website

May 2021

In April we commenced on-site investigations as part of our development of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for our proposed Tram Road Reserve underground water recycling facility.  

These investigations are being done in collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to assess any potential for finding culturally significant materials at the site.

We will be undertaking some further on-site work related to these investigations on Wednesday 5 through to Friday 7 May. This work will not require any heavy machinery and will be conducted using hand shovels.

All the sites will be fenced and we will ensure each site is returned to its original state once the works are complete.

For more information about the history and background of the project:

Visit the consultation website

April 2021

We’re developing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for our proposed Tram Road Reserve underground water recycling facility.

In collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation we are conducting investigations to assess any potential for finding culturally significant materials at the site.

Commencing Wednesday 7 April and running for two weeks we’ll undertake works at five locations in Tram Road Reserve and one in Eram Park.

Some machinery such as small excavators may be required during the works. Any noisy works will only be completed between 9am-5pm on weekdays.

All the sites will be fenced and have signs explaining the works. We will ensure that each site is returned to its original state once the works are complete.

For more information about the history and background of the project:

Visit our consultation website

February 2021

We’re continuing to consider a range of options for access to Tram Road Reserve both during construction and for the operation of the facility once it’s complete. Our priority is to look for a solution that will cause the least disruption and inconvenience to the community.

As part of evaluating our various access options, we’ve purchased the vacant block of land at 6 Whittens Lane, which was for sale.

Although we are still working through potential alternatives, one of the options under consideration would be to access the Reserve via Tram Road and Whittens Lane. As the property at 6 Whittens Lane was already listed for sale, we felt it was a good opportunity to secure it as an option that would reduce the impacts of construction traffic in local streets. We don’t have any plans to purchase any other property in the area.

Whittens Lane is permanently closed to traffic from Tram Road. To ensure all works are undertaken safely, we will work with Manningham Council and VicRoads to see if it will be possible to open the street to construction traffic only and to be closed at other times.

Once construction is complete, the property may be able to provide additional public open space or another public access route into Tram Road Reserve. There are a number of options to consider, and we’ll talk with residents, the community and Council about those options in the future.

View Frequently Asked Questions about this topic (PDF 175KB)

For more information about the history and background of the project:

Visit our consultation website

November 2020

Thank you for your feedback about our proposed underground water recycling facility in Tram Road Reserve.

You can view the summary report from our August community engagement on our consultation website as well as sign up for project updates.

We’ll use this feedback to help us design the facility, so it sits comfortably in the park. Our commitment remains to leave the park in as good or better condition than we found it.

View the consultation website

August 2020

We’ve recently completed a range of feasibility studies that have concluded that Tram Road Reserve is a suitable location to build an underground facility.

We have created a dedicated consultation website to share the results of our feasibility studies with you and gather your input to help us learn more about how you currently use the park. Your ideas will help us shape our proposals for planning authorities.

Visit consultation website

Eram Road monitoring equipment works

We will need to install some further monitoring equipment that will be in a small cabinet located near the sewer access point in parkland behind homes near Eram Road, Box Hill North. The cabinet will be away from the walking path close to the freeway wall. The cabinet will likely remain in place for approximately six months. We’ve notified nearby residents of these monitoring works.

View works information (PDF 474KB)

June 2020

The feasibility studies we have been conducting in Tram Road Reserve have now concluded. We were able to complete our technical investigations in the reserve while observing physical distancing requirements. 

Works to reinstate areas of the reserve impacted by our studies commenced on 5 June, including adding new topsoil and seeding new grass where necessary. We are also laying some additional gravel to improve the walking track near where our works took place.

We plan to communicate with the community in late July with the results of the studies.

May 2020

As we continue with our feasibility studies for the proposed recycled water facility in nearby Tram Road Reserve, we are also undertaking some investigative works on the western side of Eram Park, commencing in early May.

We will be confirming the technical feasibility of the sewer connection that would supply water to the proposed recycled water facility in nearby Tram Road Reserve. The sewer where the water would come from is just across the Koonung Creek from Tram Road Reserve. This work will involve undertaking ground condition investigations and there will be drilling equipment on site for up to two weeks.

In addition to these works, we will be undertaking some sewerage system monitoring over the next few months via a sewer access point in parkland behind homes near Eram Road, Box Hill North. We’ve notified nearby residents of these monitoring works.

View works details

April 2020

In February 2020 we held two community information sessions at the MC Square Community Centre. There were 69 people who attended the information sessions and we received several telephone and email enquiries.

Feasibility studies have also commenced at Tram Road Reserve.

We’ve prepared a report (available below) that outlines what we heard at the information sessions and the next steps in our consultation.

View Community Info Sessions Summary Report

March 2020

At the time of this update, coronavirus (COVID-19) is dominating all our lives on a number of levels.  We are sensitive to its impact on our customers and community and will consider this in our plans for upcoming engagement so that people are able to fully participate.

Throughout April and May, we will be undertaking some on-site works in Tram Road Reserve to investigate the feasibility of building an underground water recycling facility.

We expect to complete our investigations by the end of May. If it’s feasible to construct the facility underground at Tram Road Reserve, we will undertake a broader engagement program in mid-2020 to gather community input on design and construction prior to any permit applications being lodged.

View Feasibility Study

February 2020

We are holding community information sessions on:

  • Saturday 22 February, 10am-2pm
  • Wednesday 26 February 4pm-8pm

There are no formal presentations, rather the sessions offer the opportunity to meet with the Yarra Valley Water team, ask questions and provide your feedback about the project.

Both sessions will be held in the Doncaster and Templestowe Rooms at MC Square Community Centre, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

View Newsletter - February 2020

December 2019

On 5 December, the Minister for Planning released the North East Link’s Independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee’s recommendations, together with his assessment on the environmental effects of the project.

We continue to work with North East Link to understand the findings of the report and will provide a further update early in 2020.  We plan to initiate community engagement next year once we have clarity on the site for the proposed water recycling facility and our next steps for progressing the project.

November 2019

Since the State Government’s announcement about the North East Link Project we have been working with the North East Link Project team to coordinate with their proposals for upgrading the freeway in that area and to confirm any constraints and examine possible solutions to allow both projects to proceed in Eram Park.

What’s next

We are waiting on the Minister for Planning’s assessment of the North East Link Project’s Environment Effects Statement and announcement of planning approvals, due to be released before the end of the year. Once these are known, we will be able to determine the way forward for our project.

Contact us

You can contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected]

May 2019

We remain committed to establishing a recycled water treatment plant at Eram Park to deliver a new source of drought proof recycled water to the surrounding area.

The recent desalination water order announced by the Minister for Water highlights the importance of innovative water recycling projects like this. These projects will help us do more with the water we have to support a growing and thriving Melbourne, as we face the challenges of population growth and climate change.

We are continuing to work with our consultant, Arup, on the opportunity to build the recycled water plant underground (based on the successful facility operating for the past six years at Yarra Park outside the MCG) and to integrate the design of our facility with any changes that will occur as part of the North East Link Project.

We are also working closely with North East Link to ensure the two projects are well coordinated and to minimise disruption to the community wherever possible. This includes consideration of the approach to construction and the logistics of operating our facility once completed.

Once we have confirmed the proposed arrangement for the treatment plant over the coming months we will conduct further stakeholder and community consultation associated with the proposed plant’s design and construction.

Work is also progressing well with Manningham and Whitehorse councils to identify options for improving recycled water supply to critical community assets (parks and sportsgrounds). This includes assessing the feasibility of these options and considering how the community benefits from these options can be maximised. We’ll keep talking with both councils to get the best local outcomes.

Further updates will be provided as work continues to progress.

September 2018

Work has progressed and with the support of our independent experts ARUP, we have completed the feasibility study investigating whether it is feasible to construct a treatment plant underground at Eram Park. 

The study indicates that undergrounding the treatment plant is technically possible. However, before any design decisions can be made we need to further understand the impacts of the North East Link Project. The timeline for the completion of this work is dependent on NELA’s design work and will be confirmed as the design progresses. Once we have the required North East Link design information, we will undertake further work to understand how the two projects can be integrated.

We are continuing to seek information from Manningham and Whitehorse councils to identify a number of options for improving recycled water supply to critical community assets (parks and sportsgrounds). We are now assessing the feasibility of these options and considering how the community benefits from these options can be maximised. This work is progressing well and we’ll keep talking with both councils to get the best local outcomes.

Further updates will be provided as work continues to progress.

July 2018

In accordance with the Independent Panel’s recommendation we’ve commenced a study to investigate the feasibility of constructing the Plant underground. This work is being done by ARUP who supported the delivery of the MCG water recycling facility, which has been successfully constructed underground in Yarra Park.

We have also begun working with stakeholders to ensure we are able to maximise the benefits the project delivers to the local community. We have requested information from officers at Manningham and Whitehorse Councils to help us identify critical community assets that could benefit from expanding the recycled water supply network.

We are also reviewing opportunities for us to deliver amenity improvements in and around Eram Park. We want to have a preliminary view of these opportunities and the feasibility of undergrounding the Plant by September 2018.

We are working closely with the North East Link Authority (NELA) to understand the impacts of the proposed widening of the Eastern Freeway on Eram Park. This will help us to understand the potential for construction of the Plant to be undertaken in conjunction with NELA’s construction works, and for the design of both projects to be integrated. We will also be working to ensure that opportunities to enhance Eram Park are fully considered.

Further updates will be provided as work continues to progress.

Contact us

You can contact our project team on 9872 2696 during business hours or email [email protected].