Healesville Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade
Why do we need to do this?
The current plant at Argoon Road, has been treating sewage to a high standard for discharge to the Yarra river since 1987 and can treat around 1.4 million litres a day. It services thousands of homes and businesses in Healesville as well as wineries and industry in the surrounding Yarra Valley area.
The plant is nearly 40 years old and reaching the end of its life. This can increase the risk of faults in our treatment process. The upgrade will provide a reliable way to treat sewage to a high standard, and increase the amount of sewage we can treat. Treated wastewater discharges to the environment in accordance with stringent conditions set out in our EPA licence.
We've submitted our Planning Permit and Development Licence applications
We’ve now submitted our Planning Permit application to Yarra Ranges Council, and our Development Licence application to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria).
The feedback you gave us this year has helped shape these applications, particularly around odour and noise monitoring and management.
EPA Victoria and Yarra Ranges Council will review our Development Licence and planning permit applications, respectively.
We plan to start constructing the new facility in 2026 after we receive the relevant approvals and permits. We expect it will take around 2 years to build.
We invite you to review and give feedback on our Development Licence application
Yarra Ranges Council and EPA Victoria will advertise our applications as part of their public consultation processes. You’ll be able to review and give feedback on our applications by:
- Searching for our Planning Permit application PDPER-2025-0180 on Yarra Ranges Council website.
- Searching for our EPA Victoria Development Licence application APP047556 on Engage Victoria website.
Have your say May 2025
The local community gave us feedback about our plans to upgrade the treatment plant and concerns they want us to be aware of as we progress the project. The key themes we heard from your local community at our engagement pop-up sessions and discussions with neighbours are:
• Concern about impacts to the visual amenity of the area and visibility of the upgraded plant.
• Opportunities for early vegetation screening.
• Making sure we control odour and continuously monitor air quality.
• The potential for increased noise, odour or flood risk from the upgraded plant.
• Concerns about increased and inappropriate development in Healesville.
• The population size the planned upgrade of the plant will support.
• The timeframe for future sewerage system connections in Healesville.
See the questions we invited the local community to give us feedback on in January 2025.
View Community Notice (January 2025) (PDF, 273 KB)
View Community Notice (February 2026) (PDF, 293 KB)
When will works start?
We plan to start constructing the new facility in 2026 after we receive the relevant approvals and permits. We expect it will take around 2 years to build.
What’s involved in the upgrade?
We will build new infrastructure and install equipment to manage and treat sewage. This includes storage tanks, pumps and pipework, as well as new buildings.
The upgraded treatment plant will be able to treat 2.5 million litres of sewage a day. The bigger plant will also be able to manage heavy rain and floodwater better - up to 7.5 million litres a day – and will include a 1.6 million litre storage tank.
By making the plant bigger and adding a new storage tank, we can manage stormwater that enters the sewer system when it rains and reduce sewage spills. This will ensure the treatment plant continues to meet stringent environmental regulations and reduce risk to waterways. The upgraded plant will also have more capacity to support homes and businesses in Healesville and surrounding areas into the future.
Map of Healesville Sewage Treatment Plant site
Find sewage spill information
We publish sewage spills on our website and on social media. Check our Faults Map or Facebook Alerts page for the latest spill locations.
Got a question?
If you have any questions about the proposed upgrade, please contact Ben Costa, Project Manager, at [email protected] or 03 9872 1573.
Have your say
Now is the time for you to have your say about the sewage treatment plant upgrade and anything you think we should be aware of as we progress the project.
Join us at our pop-up information stall at Healesville Walk Shopping Centre (outside Coles) to find out more about the upgrade:
Monday 5 May 2025 from 4:30-6:30 pm
Thursday 8 May 2025 from 3-5 pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the upgraded Healesville Sewage Treatment Plant be located?
The Healesville Sewage Treatment Plant will remain at our existing site at 45 Argoon Road, Healesville.
Why are you upgrading the facility?
We’re upgrading the treatment plant to increase the amount of sewage that we can treat each day and when it rains to protect the environment, waterways and human health.
How do you manage sewage spills into waterways?
By making our treatment plant bigger and adding a new storage tank, we will be able to better manage stormwater that enters the sewerage system when it rains. This will reduce sewage spills into local waterways. When sewage spills happen and when it’s safe, we assess the spills and test the water quality.
What will it look like?
We’re still designing the site and buildings. We’ll work with our neighbours to consider what the site looks like. This will include the buildings and what we plant in the area.
When will construction start?
We plan to start constructing the new facility in 2026 after we receive the relevant approvals and permits. We expect it will take around 2 years to build.
Who approves this proposal?
We’ll need approvals before works can start, including a Development Licence issued by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria). To be approved for a Development Licence we’ll have to demonstrate that we’re properly managing risks, such as odour and noise. EPA Victoria will advertise our Development Licence
application as part of their public consultation process and you’ll be able to provide feedback to EPA Victoria at this stage too.
The treatment plant upgrade also needs planning approval from Yarra Ranges Council. Yarra Ranges Council will advertise our planning permit application as part of their public consultation process.
Will it smell?
We’ll design the plant to make sure air quality is always acceptable for the local community.
It’s unlikely you’ll notice odours from the upgraded sewage treatment plant. It’s been operating at its current site since 1987 and will continue to operate under strict EPA Victoria odour control requirements when it’s upgraded.
Our Development Licence application will include information about how we plan to manage potential odours. The community will be able to view this information and respond before EPA Victoria makes a decision on the Licence. Once the application is approved and the Licence is obtained, we must follow all its requirements.
Will it be noisy?
We’ll include noise assessments and modelling as part of the design. This will make sure the facility doesn’t make noise that impacts people in the area.
During construction, we expect typical noise from construction activity and nearby residents may notice increased vehicle traffic to and from the site.
When will the treatment plant operate?
Like all treatment plants, it will operate 24/7. This is to ensure we provide essential sewerage services 24/7 to the community in Healesville and surrounding area.
What impact will it have on traffic?
We don’t expect significant traffic delays or diversions on Maroondah Highway, Heritage Lane or Argoon Road. In the rare event of a big delivery, such as an oversized load, we’ll have permits and traffic management to make the area safe and keep traffic moving.
When the new facility is up and running, the amount of traffic will be the same as we currently get.
Do you use chemicals?
Chemicals are used in all sewage treatment plants and some treatment processes. We follow safety guidelines to manage and store chemicals on site.