M4 Water Main Renewal Project
What's involved in the works?
We’re carrying out water main works to keep your water flowing. Works will occur at the same time as works on the Brunswick Tram Depot upgrade. This helps minimise impacts on the community and public transport services.
The works include:
- Digging in the road to install water main connections.
- Restoring the site once works are complete.
Timing
Works are expected to start in early September and finish by early October.
Working hours
While we work, the eastbound lane on Moreland Road and the Barrow Street intersection will be closed:
- 7 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
- 7 am to 2 pm, Saturdays.
Outside these hours, the intersection will reopen to traffic.
What you need to know
During these works:
- Traffic management will be in place.
- Footpaths will remain open.
- Workers, including our contractor MFJ, construction vehicles and machinery will be in the area.
- There may be temporary noise, dust and vibration.
- We don’t expect any interruption to your water or sewer services.
Traffic and parking changes during working hours
Traffic:
- No turning into Barrow Street from Moreland Road.
- Southbound traffic on Barrow Street can turn left into Moreland Road at all times.
- No right turns into Moreland Road from Barrow Street.
Parking:
- Parking won’t be available on some sections of Moreland Road. Traffic management will be in place.
- Parking won’t be available on the western side of Barrow Street between Moreland Road and Blair Street. This area will be used to store construction materials and equipment.
What you need to do
- Follow all road and detour signage.
- Place your bins out as usual on collection night.
Contact us
Construction enquiries
Michael Nathanielsz
9852 0300
[email protected]
Project enquiries
Aaron Kee
9872 1627
[email protected]
Thank you for your patience and support as we complete these works.
Moreland Rd and Barrow St intersection works
Download map of Moreland Road Intersection Works (PDF, 3880KB)
Moreland Rd and Barrow St detour
Download map of M4 Road Repair Zones (PDF, 3853KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours will you be working?
• 7 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
• 7 am to 2 pm, Saturdays.
Will there be detours?
Yes. While we work, there will be no turning into Barrow Street from Moreland Road.
Eastbound detour:
Moreland Road → Nicholson Street → Moore Street → Barrow Street
Westbound detour:
Moreland Road → Sydney Road → Moore Street → Barrow Street
Traffic controllers will also be on site to help direct traffic.
See detour map for more information.
Will there be noise or other disruptions?
There may be temporary noise, dust and vibration.
Will my water or sewer services be affected?
No.
We don’t expect any interruptions to water or sewer services during these works.
Why are you renewing this water main?
The M4 Water Main has been supplying water to Melbourne’s inner north for more than 100 years and is nearing the end of its service life.
Renewing approximately 4.9 kilometres of water main will improve network reliability, reduce the risk of service interruptions, help prevent the loss of precious drinking water and ensure a resilient water supply for the future.
Do you have any updates on when the M4 Water Main Renewal Project works will start?
The main construction works are currently planned for delivery in two distinct stages:
- Lygon Street and Holmes Street, Brunswick East: expected to start around mid-2027
- Nicholson Street and Elizabeth Street, Coburg: expected to start around mid-2028
Timing may change as planning progresses, and we’ll continue to provide updates as more details are confirmed.
Project updates
May - August 2026
July 2024
We've checked the condition of the existing M4 water main under the Bell Street bridge. To do this, a section of the Merri Creek Trail was closed overnight between Harding Street and De Chene Reserve, Coburg.
We had people at key locations to direct pedestrians and cyclists to an alternative route along Nicholson Street to cross Bell Street at the traffic lights.
This detour was planned for Thursday 18 July 2024 from 9 pm until 5 am on Friday 19 July 2024.
The map shows the detour off the Merri Creek Trail at Harding Street, back to Nicholson Street.
January 2024
See our list of investigations completed in early 2024 below:
- 1 Inner Circle Rail Trail and Park Street, near the McIlwraith Street intersection
- 2 Chambers Street, near Brunswick Road
- 3 Ewing Street, north of Brunswick Road
- 5 Blair Street, near the Glenlyon Road intersection
- 13 Barrow Street, north of Moreland Road
- 14 Barrow Street, near The Grove intersection
- 15 Barrow Street, near the Rennie Street intersection
- 16 Barrow Street, near the Harding Street intersection
- 17 Gladstone Street, north of Harding Street
- 18 Younger Street, near the Bell Street intersection
- 19 Elizabeth Street, north of the Bell Street intersection
- 20 Elizabeth Street, between Raymond and Hope streets
- 21 Elizabeth Street, south of Murray Road
- 22 Elizabeth Street, north of Murray Road.
Map of water main investigations
November 2023
See our list of investigations completed in late 2023 below:
- 4 Ewing Street, near the Cocoa Jackson Lane intersection
- 5 Garden Street & Glenlyon Road, near the intersection
- 6 Glenlyon Road & Blair Street, near the intersection
- 7 George Street, near the Albert Street intersection
- 8 Blyth Street, near the Nash Street intersection
- 9 Blyth Street, near the & Errol Avenue intersection
- 10 Barrow Street and Harding Street
- 11 Victoria Grove, near Albion Street intersection
- 12 Barrow Street, near Donald Street intersection
- 13 Barrow Street, south of the Moreland Road intersection
- 15 Barrow Street and The Avenue, near the intersection
- 16 Barrow Street and Hardwick Street.
M4 water main early investigations_November 2023