Click on the image below to read our latest Monbulk newsletter update:

Click on the image below to read our latest Monbulk newsletter update:

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Stage 1 – sewer pipe construction in central and northeast Monbulk

Stage 1 works are finished. Our delivery partner, Interflow, has finished restoring any disturbed areas. Properties in this area will be able to connect once stages two and three are complete.

Map of Stage 1 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 2 – constructing a sewage pump station in Baynes Park Reserve and a large connecting sewer pipe from the pump station to O’Connors Road.

Our delivery partner, Jaydo, is currently constructing the sewer pump station and large connecting sewer pipe for this part of the program.

Map of Stage 2 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 3 –constructing sewer pipes in the north, south and west of Monbulk

Melbourne Pipelines has recently started sewer pipe construction for Stage 3. Most work will be in the streets, and each property in the area will have a connection point installed just inside their property boundary.

Map of Stage 3 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 4 –constructing sewer pipes in eastern Monbulk

Delivery partner Interflow will be delivering Stage 4 works, and are expected to start construction in July 2021.

Map of Stage 4 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Tree removal at Baynes Park Reserve

At Yarra Valley Water we understand how important it is to protect the environment – our water depends on it. 

As part of our work to build a modern sewerage system for Monbulk, we need to install a sewage pump station at Baynes Park Reserve.

While we make every effort to preserve the environment, we need to remove trees at the southeast corner of the park (near the toilet block) to install this essential equipment.

Our arborist’s report has identified that most trees are exotic (non-native) and common local indigenous species, with only one tree considered of high significance.

We’ll rehabilitate the area once construction is complete in approximately 12 months, working collaboratively with the local community and council.

Replanting provides the opportunity to replace exotic and weed trees with local, indigenous species which will help improve Monbulk’s environment.

To better manage the number of properties connecting to the new sewerage system, we have split this project into four stages of work.

As we progress to each stage, our delivery partner, Pressure Sewer Services Australia (PSSA), will contact homeowners to offer design appointments for your onsite pressure sewer unit.

Stage 1 –constructing sewer pipes in central and northeast Monbulk

The first stage of bringing a pressure sewer system to your area is focussed on the northeast of Monbulk - along Silvan Reservoir and up to Monbulk-Seville Road. Works will take place mainly in Monbulk Road, Reservoir Road, Moores Road and Mount Pleasant Road.

Our delivery partners, Interflow and PSSA, adhere to government restrictions for small-scale construction sites, operating under their business’ COVID Safe Plan, as well as a site-specific High  Risk COVID Safe Plan (as required) to make sure our employees, contractors and the community remain safe.  

Map of Stage 1 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 2 – constructing a sewage pump station in Baynes Park Reserve and a large connecting sewer pipe from the pump station to O’Connors Road.

We are currently assessing the tender for this stage and anticipate awarding the contract in the coming weeks. We anticipate commencing construction approximately two months after we’ve awarded the contract.

Map of Stage 2 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 3 –constructing sewer pipes in the south and west of Monbulk

This stage is currently out for tender. We expect to award a preferred contractor and start construction in early 2021.

Map of Stage 3 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

Stage 4 –constructing sewer pipes in eastern Monbulk

We are in the design phase for this stage of the work. We expect our design to be completed in the coming months and will start the tender process in early 2021.

Map of Stage 4 of the Monbulk Community Sewerage area

The Community Sewerage team from Yarra Valley Water will be at the Monbulk Produce Market on 9 November, 2019. Come along if you have any questions or feedback for us. 

Details are:
Date: Saturday, 9 November 2019
Time: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Location: 73 Main Road, Monbulk

For updates on this project, head to Commmunity Sewerage Program.

View Map of Monbulk Service Area (0.657 MB)

Everyone in Monbulk Community Sewerage Area can connect to the new sewerage system

Yarra Valley Water will be constructing a piped sewerage system for Monbulk Community Sewerage Area. 

Sewerage pipes in the streets will connect to your property and the sewage will be taken away to a sewage treatment plant.

A piped sewerage system will provide a healthier and more efficient sewerage solution for Monbulk now and in the future. 

In October 2017 and February 2018, we informed some customers that they would not be able to connect to the new system. We received feedback from your community that this was unfair. 

We have listened to this feedback and now all properties will be able to connect.

What will happen next?

Our pressure sewer contractor, Pressure Sewer Services Australia Pty Ltd (PSSA) have completed initial site investigations on your property. 

Next year, PSSA will be inviting you to book a design appointment, to discuss details about the pressure sewer unit to be installed on your property and the best location for it. 

Our designers Jacobs Australia Pty Ltd are continuing their site investigations throughout Monbulk that will help us complete the final design.  

Connecting to the new system is better for you and the community

Connecting to a piped sewerage system means you will never have to think about your sewerage again. You will not need to maintain or replace a septic tank when it gets old.

The project will benefit the Monbulk community by providing a modern, sewerage system designed to meet the needs of the community now and in the future. 

When septic tanks are unsuitable for a property, fail, get old or are not maintained properly they can leak waste to the local environment causing a health risk, unpleasant smells, boggy areas and pollution of local waterways.

The more properties that connect to the new system, the better for the whole community.

We will be at the Monbulk Produce Market if you would like to see us in person to talk about the project. Details for the market are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 9 November 2019
Time: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Location: 73 Main Road, Monbulk

What is happening now

We are designing the sewerage infrastructure for Monbulk Sewerage Project.

Representatives from our design consultant, Jacobs, are in your area to undertake site investigations. This involves them walking or driving along local streets, and occasionally in public land such as parks and reserves to understand the area’s ground levels and the location of existing services (such as powerlines, underground cables), which will help us in completing the design of the sewerage system for the Monbulk area.

Project Timeline

The current estimate is to commence construction mid-2020 and have the project completed by end of 2021. Please note the note the timing of the project is dependent on a range of approvals, including planning permits, and is subject to change.

We will keep you updated about changes in the timeline and send you more information as we get closer to construction.

Between 10 July and 4 August 2017, we ran an online forum where you could have your say about which sewerage service you think is best for Monbulk. 

People were asked to watch the 5 minute video about the two possible sewerage options for Monbulk, and post their opinion on Yarra Valley Water’s preferred sewerage option. 

In total, we had 102 participants. The comments we received on the forum have been reviewed, and helped to inform our decision about how to provide Monbulk with a sewerage service. 

In addition to the online forum comments, we held an information session at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre on 25 July 2017, where people in the community came along to talk to the project team about the proposed sewerage servicing approach for the area. 

The session was an informal drop-in session, and attendance was not mandatory. There was no formal presentation. About 60 people attended, asking great questions of the project team about the project. 

We also set up a pop-up stand in Main Road, Monbulk  on Saturday 29 July 2017. 

Thank you for your input and attendance as part of our community consultation between 10 July and 4 August 2017.

Proceeding with the pressure sewer option

Our proposed servicing solution for Monbulk that we presented to the community was a pressure sewer option. About half of the people who provided feedback specifically showed their support for the pressure sewer option, with only about one per cent showing support for a decentralised servicing option. The rest did not provide a preference.

A summary of what people said is shown in the table below:

With the pressure sewer option being most preferred we have made the decision to proceed with a pressure sewer network to service the Monbulk area.

Next steps

Letters were sent this month, advising residents and property owners in Monbulk of the outcome of the Land Capability Assessment (LCA) for their property, and if their property is being serviced as part of the Community Sewerage Program.

We will now commence the functional design of the sewer network, which will help determine the best locations for the sewer pipes.

Once we have completed the functional design of the sewer network, we willhold another information session where people can talk to the project team and find out more about where the pipes will be located, as well as how we determined which properties would be provided with a service.

We will write to you with further information on the session in the coming months.

Project timeline

Construction of the sewer network is currently estimated to commence in early 2019, with the area being ready for properties to connect by mid-2021. Please note the timing of the project is dependent on a range of approvals, including planning permits, and is subject to change. We will keep people in the community updated about any changes to the timeline.

How we assess properties

For more information about the Land Capability Assessment, and what if means if a property will (or won't) be provided with a sewerage service as part of this program, please refer to the fact sheet.

Fact Sheet - Monbulk Sewerage Project

• Together with Yarra Ranges Council, we met with the Monbulk Community Reference Group to provide an update, and get community feedback on the options and our proposed engagement approach.
• We continue to consult with Yarra Ranges Council to ensure that our next steps align with their Structure Plan development.
• We provided customers in the community sewerage area with an update on these next steps.
• We will be in touch with the community soon about upcoming opportunities to find out more about the two servicing options, ask questions and have a say about your preferred option.

• Following assessment of our consultants’ work we have finalised our two wastewater management options for Monbulk.
• We will be in touch and update the Community on the next steps in early 2017.
• We are continuing our organisational consultations, in particular with Yarra Ranges Council.  Council are currently undertaking their Monbulk Structure Plan project and we have provided input to the draft Issues and Opportunities Report.  We will continue to work with Council and align our next steps with their Structure Plan development.

• Representatives from our environmental consultant, DWC have completed their fieldwork in Monbulk.  This provided us with key information about properties, which has allowed us to further refine options for managing wastewater in the area.
• Now that the options investigation is complete, we are finalising our organisational consultations with Council, EPA and Melbourne Water.
• We are working towards presenting two wastewater management options to the Monbulk community and seeking feedback.  We will be in touch with our plans for community consultation, once our organisational consultations are complete.