We’ve reached a major milestone in the upgrade of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant. The construction phase is now complete, and in April we officially moved into the next stage of process commissioning the new facility.

What have we achieved?
Since our March 2025 update, we have:

• Reached the end of construction and moved into process commissioning
• Started treating sewage in the new plant, which is now receiving all flows from the townships of Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon, and Mount Macedon
• Brought both bioreactors online — these help break down waste using natural biological processes
• Carried out extensive lab testing to fine-tune the treatment process
• Turned off the old plant, drained it, and cleaned it ready for full decommissioning

What’s next?
Over the coming months, we will:

• Continue optimising the treatment process to ensure the new plant runs as efficiently as possible
• Keep planting native species as part of our landscaping work
• Finalise checks and complete documentation as we approach the end of commissioning
• Fully decommission the old plant, including demolishing unused structures and removing old pipes

We’re aiming to get the new facility fully operational by late 2025. We will continue to keep you updated as we reach the end of this exciting project.

We have completed the construction stage and preliminary testing of the new Gisborne Recycled Water Plant.

What have we achieved

Since our December 2024 update, we have:

• Identified and rectified any construction defects
• Started to landscape the facility with native grasses
• Tested all mechanical equipment
• Tested the new facility in a closed system

What is involved in the next stage of works?

Over the next few months, we will:

• Continue landscaping with native tubestock plants
• Closely monitor the treatment process as we introduce wastewater into the facility
• Make any systems changes required to optimise treatment
• Run the plant continuously for 90 days to prove it meets our performance criteria

What happens next

The new plant is expected to be running at full capacity by mid-2025. We will then work to decommission the old facility. This will include:

• Draining and cleaning the old plant
• Salvaging useful assets that can be re-deployed elsewhere in the network
• Demolishing the remainder of the plant and recycled all usable materials

We have almost finished the construction stage of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant upgrade. We’ll soon be moving to the next stage of the project which involves testing the new plant so it can transition safely into service.

What have we achieved?

Since our August 2024 update, we have:

• Finalised installation of all electrical and communications cables, upgraded high voltage cables and turned the power on
• completed construction on the blower building, switch room, dewatering building, UV shed and administration building
• installed chemical dosing equipment
• built kerbs and laid the asphalt road

What is involved in the next stage of works?

Over the next few months, we will:

• prepare to test the new facility
• identify and fix any defects
• complete landscaping

What is involved in testing the new plant?

During this stage we will be checking, testing and then running the new plant in a controlled environment. We’ll closely monitor operations as we gradually increase the amount of wastewater it filters and cleans, until we can fully transition from the old plant. This work is expected to be complete in mid-2025.

We’ve made significant progress and are nearing the end of the construction phase of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant upgrade. Once construction is complete, we need to carry out testing and monitoring on the new plant. This ensures the new plant can safely transition into service.

What have we finished?

Since our April 2024 update, we have:

• erected structures for the blower building, switch room, dewatering building, UV shed and administration building
• completed laying all major underground pipework
• completed tie-in works to divert flows to the new plant when it comes online
• completed installation of most mechanical equipment

What is involved in the next stage of works?

Over the next few months, we will:

• install electrical and communication cables around site
• complete odour duct work which will capture and treat any smell
• upgrade the high voltage power cables
• complete the fit out of the administration building
• begin testing on the new plant

What is involved in testing?

This will involve checking, testing and then running the new plant in a controlled environment. We’ll closely monitor the new plant as we gradually increase the amount of wastewater it filters and cleans, until we can fully transition from the old plant.

This work is expected to be complete in mid-2025.

We’re halfway through the construction phase of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant upgrade and have up to 60 people on site on our busiest days. We’re busy and we’re excited by the progress.

What have you finished?

Since our January 2024 update, we’ve completed the following:

• Poured concrete slabs for the dewatering building, switch room, blower building and UV area
• Installation of mechanical equipment in the inlet works and bioreactor
• Poured foundations for the new administration building
• Platform and handrail installation at the inlet works

What is involved in the next phase of works?

We will focus on the following over the next few months:

• Laying major underground pipe network
• Installing above-ground pipework for the bioreactor, membrane filtration, UV and odour control areas
• Installing covers and platforms on major structures
• Switchboard construction
• Continued construction of the administration and dewatering buildings

Construction on the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant upgrade continues. All major concrete structures are complete and have undergone testing to ensure they are watertight. We are currently coating these structures to protect the concrete and increase the overall lifespan of our assets. As always, we continue to prioritise protecting cultural heritage and the environment on site.

What is involved in the next phase of works?

Construction resumes after the holiday period on Monday 8 January 2024. Works will focus on installing the next phase of essential equipment and structures, including:

• Underground pipes
• Above-ground mechanical equipment
• Administration and dewatering buildings
• Switch room

Construction on the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant upgrade is underway, and we’ve completed site establishment and bulk excavation. Since December, 13,000 cubic metres of material have been excavated and stockpiled on site. This allows us to make way for the new structures that will treat the incoming wastewater.

The excavated material won’t go to waste! At the end of the project, it will be repurposed to shape the new plant and revegetated with native plants and grasses to beautify the site.

Throughout the bulk excavation phase, we worked closely with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to ensure the protection of their cultural heritage.

What is involved in the next phase of works?

Work has now begun on the build phase of the project. In this phase we’ll build the key structures required for the treatment process at the plant, including:

• Inlet works
• Membrane bioreactor
• Dewatering facility
• UV treatment

We’ll also construct an administration building, switchroom and odour control facilities to help the plant run effectively.

Click on the hotspots on the design below to learn more about each of these structures in the treatment process.

What to expect?

You may see increased activity at the Gisborne RWP, including:

• Increased machinery activity including excavators, cranes, loaders and concrete trucks.
• Increased heavy vehicles in the area.
• Visible concrete structures being erected.
• Continued excavation.

Construction is due to begin on 1 December 2022 and is expected to be complete, with the upgraded facility fully operational, by 2025.

What to expect during the works

The works are expected to be within the boundary of the existing plant, and we’ll make every effort to minimise disruptions.

During the works, residents living near the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant can expect:

• There may be increased truck traffic and dust near the site.
• Any noise generated will be within allowable standards.
• Works will be operating Monday to Saturday.
• We’ll continue to prioritise the health of Jacksons Creek and the surrounding environment.
• We don’t expect any disruption to water or sewerage services, but we’ll contact you if your services may be impacted.