Gippsland Water is starting work on its upgraded wastewater treatment plant in Drouin, which will cater to the town’s booming growth.
Acting managing director, Simon Aquilina, said site preparation works were completed in June 2019 and the major construction contracts were signed in December, allowing construction to begin in February 2020.
Mr Aquilina said the $50 million project would result in cleaner wastewater, greater safeguards for public health and the ability to recycle more wastewater for irrigation.
“Drouin’s population is growing rapidly and this means we need to expand the capacity of the existing wastewater treatment plant to meet the town’s needs,” Mr Aquilina said.
“Building a new mechanical plant at the existing site offered the best value for our customers.
“The design also includes solar panels onsite to help reduce the carbon output of the new plant.”
The new mechanical plant will work together with the existing lagoon system to produce wastewater that can be returned to the environment.
“The treated water released from the new treatment plant will be of higher quality, which will better protect the ecology of local waterways and Westernport Bay,” Mr Aquilina said.
Mr Aquilina said the major construction contractor would work with GROW Gippsland to provide opportunities for local sub-contractors.
The main construction of the plant should be complete by mid-2022, with the plant fully operational by the end of 2022.
Project updates can be found here.
