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Water and Wastewater

Western Treatment Plant 5 West Nutrient Removal Plant

Location

Werribee, Victoria

Value

$330 million

Client

Melbourne Water

Status

Complete

About the project

BMD successfully delivered the final stage of Melbourne Water’s three stage expansion works at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, Victoria.

This critical upgrade involved constructing a new nutrient removal plant capable of processing 150 million litres of wastewater per day, replacing the existing 55E activated sludge plant. As the Western Treatment Plant handles almost half of Melbourne's sewage, this upgrade is important for maintaining the city's environmental and public health standards. The improved infrastructure has:

addressed historical and future growth
renewed aging equipment and improve overall plant efficiency
enhanced safety for operation activities and facilitate elimination of current high risk maintenance works, such as diving and working over water from boats
implemented lower cost, more energy efficient treatment technology, such as short cut nitrogen removal process.

Scope of work

Construction of five combined bioreactor-clarifier tanks with associated feed, waste activated sludge and effluent discharge pipeline connection

Installation of interconnecting pipework between pond systems

Building ancillary buildings and pump stations

Fitting process mechanical equipment

High and low voltage electrical works

Installation and calibration of sensors, transmitters, and analysers for control automation and process monitoring

Commissioning of the plant infrastructure

Melbourne Water - Western Treatment Plant

Industry Awards

Victorian Australian Water Association Awards 2025, Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Metro) winner

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Annual Infrastructure Oration & National Infrastructure Awards 2026, Innovation Excellence Award winner

Project outcomes

Successfully completed first attempt hydrotests on all five concrete bioreactor-clarifier tanks, demonstrating water tightness of the structures.

Coordinated with stakeholders to manage key service isolation, relocation and connection works – ensuring seamless infrastructure handover to plant operators.

Implemented a local first approach, procuring almost 90% of materials, plant and labour from within Australia to deliver the project.

Partnered with designers and concrete plants to develop a custom concrete mix for 715 precast panels, maximising recycled content without compromising performance.

Using ‘individual joint testing’ to pressure test the effluent and feed pipelines. Instead of testing the entire pipeline at once, each joint is tested separately, making the process more efficient and conserving water compared to traditional methods.

Installed solar-powered light towers at work locations, reducing reliance on conventional electricity and minimising the project's carbon footprint.

Established the Social Engine Cafe, providing onsite kiosk and catering services for our project team while also creating employment and training opportunities for at-risk youth.

Provided opportunities for 92 First Nations employees and supported 16 Indigenous businesses, with a forecasted spend of $9.3 million by project completion.

Over 79,000 social enterprise hours were delivered, representing 9% of the total workforce, exceeding the government benchmark of 3%.

Launched a Safety Culture Working Program to create ‘one project, team and safety standard’, fostering a strong safety culture across the project.

In partnership with our subcontractors, raised over $90,000 for charities close to our hearts, including the Good Friday Appeal, Royal Hospital Appeal, Type 1 Foundation - diabetes and beanies drive, Moving Uniting - charity food drive, Challenge - supporting kids with cancer, The Push-Up Challenge and WaterAid.

Related projects

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Water and Wastewater

Western Treatment Plant 5 West Nutrient Removal Plant

About the project

Scope of work

Construction of five combined bioreactor-clarifier tanks with associated feed, waste activated sludge and effluent discharge pipeline connection

Installation of interconnecting pipework between pond systems

Building ancillary buildings and pump stations

Fitting process mechanical equipment

High and low voltage electrical works

Installation and calibration of sensors, transmitters, and analysers for control automation and process monitoring

Commissioning of the plant infrastructure

Industry Awards

Project outcomes

Successfully completed first attempt hydrotests on all five concrete bioreactor-clarifier tanks, demonstrating water tightness of the structures.

Coordinated with stakeholders to manage key service isolation, relocation and connection works – ensuring seamless infrastructure handover to plant operators.

Implemented a local first approach, procuring almost 90% of materials, plant and labour from within Australia to deliver the project.

Partnered with designers and concrete plants to develop a custom concrete mix for 715 precast panels, maximising recycled content without compromising performance.

Using ‘individual joint testing’ to pressure test the effluent and feed pipelines. Instead of testing the entire pipeline at once, each joint is tested separately, making the process more efficient and conserving water compared to traditional methods.

Installed solar-powered light towers at work locations, reducing reliance on conventional electricity and minimising the project's carbon footprint.

Established the Social Engine Cafe, providing onsite kiosk and catering services for our project team while also creating employment and training opportunities for at-risk youth.

Provided opportunities for 92 First Nations employees and supported 16 Indigenous businesses, with a forecasted spend of $9.3 million by project completion.

Over 79,000 social enterprise hours were delivered, representing 9% of the total workforce, exceeding the government benchmark of 3%.

Launched a Safety Culture Working Program to create ‘one project, team and safety standard’, fostering a strong safety culture across the project.

Related news

BMD awarded Western Treatment Plant in Victoria

Innovation in action at the Western Treatment Plant

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