Water works in your area starting early August 2023

You might not notice a lot of the work we do because most of it is beneath your feet. Every day, we’re maintaining and upgrading the pipes and pumps that keep water flowing. With some upcoming works in Back Beach Road, Portsea and Point Nepean Road between Portsea and Sorrento, you might see us (or our delivery partner Service Stream) around.

Here’s what to expect while we get the job done.

What we're doing

This project is to upgrade water pipes, so you can always rely on us when you need a drink, a bath or to wash the clothes or dishes.

You shouldn’t notice any change to your water or sewerage services while we work.If we need to interrupt your water supply, don’t worry, we’ll notify you in advance to organise connection to a temporary supply.

We'll complete sections of this project in stages, starting from the Point Nepean National Park and work towards Sorrento, with reinstatement of impacted areas at each stage of the works being completed as the project progresses to the next stage. 

This project should take around 12 months to complete (depending on the weather) with a break over the Mornington Peninsula's busy summer period to avoid disruption.  Due to unexpected delays, we now expect to finish these works in early November 2024.

When it's happening

We're planning to return to the intersection of Ocean Beach Road and Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento to connect to the new water main in late September until mid October (depending on the weather).

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, technical or permit 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 while we work:

  • More trucks on the streets around you.
  • Fewer car parks around the work zones.
  • Noise from machinery, like beepers when trucks reverse.
  • A change in normal traffic flow.
  • Our traffic management team will be around to make sure people, bikes and cars can move around safely.

Want to know more? Watch our video 'What you might hear and see' below.

Don't miss these details

We’re working with Service Stream to help us.

If you’re a business, you’ll need to make sure that the works and any interruption to water supply don’t affect your emergency fire plan. You’ll also need to let your insurer know.

If connected to a temporary water supply and you need to isolate water coming inside your property, please use the ball valve handle on the pipe, just before your water meter, to turn off your water. Alternatively, contact us on 1800 814 900 for assistance.

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.

Where we will be working

Blue legend icon  ​Location of pipeline to be upgraded

Blue legend icon   ​Current work area 

Blue legend icon   ​Completed sections 

What you might hear and see

Frequently Asked Questions

South East Water manages an infrastructure renewal program, which involves monitoring the condition of our water and sewerage networks and undertaking upgrade works as needed. The aim of this program is to deliver reliable water and sewerage services to our customers and community.

The Water Renewal Program involves replacing water mains in nature strips and roadways.

The rehabilitation and/or replacement of the water main will:

  • Improve water service reliability
  • Reduce potential property damage if the water main were to fail
  • Reduce maintenance and repair costs of the water main

South East Water will provide notices of their intention to work in an area prior to the work commencing. If the works are deferred, we will send you another notification of the new proposed start date. South East Water will install project signage at the work area approximately three days prior to commencing the works. 

The new water main will be laid in the nature strip or, if necessary, in the road. Wherever possible, trenchless construction techniques will be used to minimise disturbance to the community.  

All works, including service connections, have been carefully planned to minimise any disruptions to your water service. Water will remain available throughout construction unless otherwise advised. We will notify you at least 48 hours in advance of any planned service disruptions. If you have any water supply requirements other than normal domestic or business use (e.g. health related needs), please let us know so that we can arrange an alternative water supply. 

During the course of the works, and depending on the renewal methodology, we may need to supply your property with water via a temporary service pipe, which will ensure minimal disruption to your water services. The temporary water supply is supplied via a small diameter plastic service pipe (usually black, blue or white) running along the front of the affected properties in your street.

 We work closely with affected businesses to minimise disruption wherever possible and determine the most suitable time to complete the works. Businesses with fire services should note that water will not be provided for sprinkler systems during construction if temporary water services are used during construction. 

At various locations along the water main alignment, the pipe may be laid across property driveways. In most cases, the construction crew will be able to drill underneath driveways so that customers can access their property at all times. Where drilling is not possible, we will adopt an open cut excavation method. In the event where driveway access is impacted, we will notify you well in advance so that alternative access arrangements can be made.

In the event when temporary pipe is laid across driveways the Project Team will install crossing ramps designed for normal vehicle use. Please ensure drivers use the ramps at a slow speed without stopping. Damage may occur to the temporary pipes if drivers stop and restart on top of the ramp.

Immediately after the works are complete, we will apply top soil and seed to grassed areas affected by the works and, where possible, reinstate the area to its original condition. The Project Team will also repair any impacts to the road, footpath and driveways or arrange for these to be repaired by Council. We will provide you with further information about temporary and permanent reinstatement works once the water main renewal work is complete. 

There is no cost to the property owner for these works. 

Need to get in touch?

We're here to help.

Portsea to Sorrento Water Main Renewal - REF 937245

Contact us via phone

1800 814 900

Contact us via email

renewals@sew.com.au

Contact us via post

Water and Sewer renewals
PO Box 2268
Seaford VIC 3198

Translator Interpreter Service
All languages 03 9280 0779

 

National Relay Service (NRS)
TTY: 13 36 77 (ask for 131 851)