Strengthening sewer system for the future at Fishermans Bend
South East Water’s major upgrade to parts of the Port Melbourne sewer network is underway, supporting population growth as part of Australia’s largest urban renewal project, Fishermans Bend.
The $40 million critical infrastructure works involve extending the current sewer network to facilitate the future relocation of a major sewer pump station on Salmon Street, Port Melbourne.
The future pump station will be 11 metres deep, replacing the existing 100-year-old pump station which currently sits within a traffic island, posing a significant safety risk.
South East Water’s industry partner Beca, Fulton Hogan & Interflow Joint Venture (BFHI) is undertaking the works which will be delivered in 3 stages.
Stage 1 is nearing completion with the installation of new sewerage pipes.
South East Water General Manager Charlie Littlefair said the upgrades were essential to keep up with future demand on the sewerage network in the area.
“By 2050, Fishermans Bend is expected to house around 80,000 people, so renewal projects are essential to increase the capacity of the sewerage system to take away more waste for more people.
“Our crews are now excavating shafts and installing pipes using a process called microtunnelling .
“The machine is lifted into the ground and pushes so slowly that it can barely be seen to be moving – all while Salmon Street traffic is flowing above.”
South East Water expects Stage 1 to be complete in early 2026.
Stage 2 which includes building the new pump station is in the design phase. Stage 3 will involve decommissioning the old infrastructure.
The Salmon Street project will continue into 2027 when the current pump station is decommissioned.
For more information visit Port Melbourne, Salmon Street Diversion Sewer Upgrade | South East Water
South East Water is investing $2.1 billion between 2023 and 2028 in capital projects to support population growth, climate adaptation, regulatory compliance and rising customer expectations. This includes expanding its network with more than 14,700 km of water pipes, 1,500 km of recycled water pipes and 11,600 km of sewer pipes delivered in 2024–25.
About Fishermans Bend
Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal project, expected to house around 80,000 people by 2050.
The 2055 vision for Fishermans Bend recognises the 485-hectare renewal area as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set new benchmarks for inner city urban renewal and best practice sustainability outcomes.