Sewer secure for another century

NINE-hundred-and-sixty metres’ worth of city sewer piping has been replaced by Central Highlands Water since April, completing the first stage of the Ballarat Sewer Build.

CHW managing director Paul O’Donohue said the “major community legacy project” worth $25 million has so far seen fresh sewer piping infrastructure installed four-to-six metres under sections of Peel, Eastwood, and Anderson streets.

The new piping – 900 millimetres in diameter – is duplicating the pre-existing line from Ballarat East, across to the south.

“Construction has included more than 13,000 tonnes of crushed rock compacted, two micro-tunnels bored beneath critical traffic intersections, 220 cubic metres of concrete poured, and three large sewer connections made into the existing network,” he said.

“A total of 22,000 working hours have been undertaken to complete stage one. We’re also looking forward to reinstating the temporarily sealed roads in Eastwood and Peel streets, which we will be working with the City of Ballarat to action in early 2022.”

But the large-scale project has not only been about planning for the next 100 years. It’s also been an opportunity to locate, preserve and share natural and man-made pieces of a bygone Ballarat.

An enclosed, square, 50-centimetre-wide sawn timber water supply pipe for Bakery Hill was uncovered one metre under the Peel and Eastwood Street junction.

Estimated to date back to the 1850s, it has since been added to the Victorian Heritage register.

Three metres under Little Bridge Street, Sewer Build workers found a large tree stump with its roots in-tact, and a no-longer-used but original water main, also constructed in the gold rush period.

Where Yarrowee River bluestones have been impacted by the build, stonemasons have been employed to professionally remove and number stones, and replace them in their original location.

CHW project manager Mick Dwyer said the community’s support so far has made the challenging schedule of works much easier.

“We sincerely thank the many businesses, residents and stakeholders for their collaboration and patience throughout stage one construction,” he said.

“The community spirit shown during construction, particularly during challenging COVID-19 times and severe weather events, has been greatly appreciated.

“The understanding shown by both our business community and residents has made a highly complex project achievable.”

Stage two of the Ballarat Sewer Build will start in 2022, with works between White Flat Oval and Prest Street.