By Jesse Graham
MELBOURNE Water crews will be working for the next nine months to complete a new pipeline, replacing a stretch of the 120-year-old Maroondah Aqueduct in Dixons Creek.
Crews have been working since September on a project to replace a 5.7 kilometre stretch of the Maroondah Aqueduct, which transports water from Maroondah Reservoir in Healesville to Sugarloaf Reservoir.
The works, which are taking place near Bleases Lane in Dixons Creek, are expected to run until August 2017, and are part of a 20-year plan to replace the entire 27km aqueduct, according to a Melbourne Water spokesperson.
Responding to questions from the Mail, the spokesperson said the aqueduct was originally built in the 1890s and extended in the 1920s, and is made up of open channels, tunnels and siphons.
“Inspections have revealed that the aqueduct is starting to show signs of deterioration and will need to be progressively replaced,” the spokesperson said.
“In the short term, the underground pipeline will replace the ageing aqueduct – over the next 20 years, all 27km of aqueduct will be replaced by buried pipeline.
“This will improve water security, reduce operation and maintenance costs associated with managing the open aqueduct and enable greater transfer capacity within this system.”
The pipeline is made up of concrete-lined steel pipes, 1750mm in diameter, buried underground in alignment with the aqueduct, which will be filled in with dirt when the works are complete.
When running, the pipeline will be able to transfer 250 megalitres of water per day, 50 megalitres more than its current capacity.
The spokesperson said that, when completed, the pipeline will also be able to be pressurised, to carry water quicker between the reservoirs and to treatment plants – the water will be gravity-fed until then.
The aqueduct also supplies three million litres of water to the Yarra Glen Water Treatment Plant and to private connections – the spokesperson said water supplies will be maintained during the construction works.
For the first quarter of 2017, works will be taking place along the Melba Highway between Bottings Lane and Gulf Road, with reduced speed limits and changed traffic conditions.
“An increase in truck movements, including large pipe deliveries, will be experienced in the area, particularly Pauls and Bleases lanes,” the Melbourne Water spokesperson said.
For more information about the project, visit www.melbournewater.com.au/maroondahaqueduct or email maroondah.aqueduct@melbournewater.com.au
