Springvale South Sewer Upgrade
Increasing sewer network capacity
On this page
Works on Darren Road and Waterloo Court (Stage 1) starting from Octotber until December. Local access will be maintained. Properties near the works area will receive a letter before we start.
See below for map and timeline.
What we’re doing
This project is to install a new underground sewer pipe and maintenance holes running from the corner of Harold Road and Darren Road, down Darren Road and in Waterloo Crescent. Works will also include a new vent stack at Laidlaw Court Reserve at the end of Waterloo Court.
We'll also reline a section of the existing sewer pipe as a part of this project. We'll be in touch if this affects you.
This essential project will increase the capacity of the sewer network to cater for population growth and future proof the sewerage system.
Dilapidation surveys
If you live near our works, you may receive a letter from us to schedule a condition survey of your property. ABK and BSS Group will also door knock some properties in the area to answer any questions about the dilapidation survey. We'll follow up if we identified your property may be impacted and haven't heard from you.
When it's happening
We're planning to start work in early October 2026. It should take around 8 months to complete the whole project (depending on the weather).
See map below for stages and timing.
You can expect us to work Monday to Friday between 7 am and 6 pm. On the odd occasion, we might need to work at other times for safety or technical reasons.
What might impact you
We’ll do our best to keep impacts to a minimum, however these are the kinds of things you might notice when constrcution begins:
- Staged full road closures on Harold and Darren Roads (local access only)
- More trucks on the streets around you
- Less car parks on some streets
- Noise and dust from heavy machinery
- A change in normal traffic flow
- Cordoned off areas where we need to work, so please adhere to traffic management.
If we need to impact access to your driveway, we'll be in touch in advance.
Don’t miss these details
You will be able to access your property, even when the road is closed. You may have to wait for our traffic team to guide you out of the works area if we're moving heavy machinery during working hours.
We're working with Abergeldie, BMD, KBR Joint Venture (ABK) to help us. They will have a temporary site compound set up in the car parks on Darren Road, near Moorgate Court, during the works.
You shouldn’t notice any change to your water or sewer services while we work.
When we’ve finished the job, we’ll leave things how we found them and make sure we return any areas we’ve impacted as close as possible to their original condition.
Works
There are more of us living in the area now and, with potential storm surges, floods and extreme weather events from climate change, we need to make sure everyone is protected from sewage surges or overflows. Sewage surges or overflows happens when flooded sewerage pipes aren’t large enough and don’t have the pressure, to take sewage and additional storm water run-off to the local treatment plant.
We’ve awarded the construction of this project to Abergeldie, BMD, KBR Joint Venture (ABK).
South East Water and their appointed contractors will keep you informed about the project and construction in your area, and we’ll work with you to discuss your access needs before we start to build.
The new sewer pipes will be laid beneath the road or footpath, depending on the outcomes of geotechnical investigations and the location of utilities. The pipes will be laid using trenchless technology, where shafts are dug, then bores are sunk, and pipes pushed through behind them. This is the best way to lay pipes in built up areas because it limits the disruption to the local community.
No, but please don't hesitate to call our 24/7 Faults and Emergencies team on 13 28 12 if you experience disruptions at any time.
Construction hours will be Monday to Friday between 7 am and 5 pm. On the odd occasion we may need to work at other times, including night works, for safety or technical reasons. If we do, we’ll make sure we let you know in advance so you can plan accordingly.
We'll endeavour to make sure your driveway isn’t blocked during construction, but if it is, we’ll let you know beforehand, so you have time to organise alternative parking. But don’t worry. We will be around to help you get out of your driveway in an emergency.
We'll speak with you in the lead up to construction to understand more about your deliveries, waste removal and customer access, and work with you to make sure these are not impacted. If we do need to block your driveway for a short period of time, we’ll work out alternative arrangements with you prior to works commencing.
Prior to construction commencing we’ll be in touch to understand more about your parking arrangements. We do apologise if local parking is impacted but will work to make sure this is for as short a time as possible.
When we’ve finished the job, we’ll leave things how we found them and make sure we return any areas we’ve impacted as close as possible to their original condition.
No. There is no cost to the property or business owner for these works.
Ventilation stack
A ventilation stack is an outlet pipe that diffuses and dilutes treated gases from the underground sewer network into the upper atmosphere.
A ventilation stack looks similar to a metal pipe with an opening at the top. Its height, diameter and appearance depend on the required ventilation and the area's wind pattern.
Sewage decomposes over time generating odorous gases. If these gases remain inside the sewer network they prematurely degrade the sewage infrastructure that services the local community. The amount of gas depends on the community’s sewage discharge which changes over time. To keep sewage infrastructure functioning safely and efficiently these gases are pretreated to reduce their odour.
The ventilation stack removes odour from the pump station by venting high above to further dilute odours into the atmosphere. This means gases cannot be smelt at ground levels and nearby properties, including two-storey buildings. South East Water uses best practice technology to treat the air prior to releasing it out of the ventilation stack.
We've identified that a 9m tall ventilation stack is adequate to service the community through Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approved modelling methods. The stack will be in the colour Pale Eucalypt or equivalent, so it blends in with the background as much as possible. Please refer to photos illustrating this below and on following pages.
Noise
There will be no increase in noise from the ventilation stack following the construction of the project. In most instances, ventilation stacks do not make any noise. The ventilation stack is designed to meet the noise level limits set by the EPA.
Location
The ventilation stack will be located in Laidlaw Court Reserve, at the end of Waterloo Court.
Odour
It is not anticipated that any unpleasant smells will be noticeable from the ventilation stack. The purpose of a ventilation stack is to remove and disperse sewer gases into the atmosphere to mitigate odour and corrosion.
Construction hours
Regular construction hours are between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday (weather permitting). Work may occasionally be required outside of these hours. We'll inform you of any work required outside our regular construction hours.
Under the Water Act 1989, South East Water has the right to undertake these works in its licenced area to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation of its network for all its customers. We also operate under the Water Estimation, Supply and Sewerage Regulations 2014.
South East Water must comply with regulations from the EPA, the Department of Health and other government agencies to ensure that all of its assets and infrastructure meet legal and statutory requirements regarding public safety and to ensure the health and wellbeing of operators and maintenance staff.
