More than 16,000 properties between Rye and Portsea on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula can now choose to connect to a new $357 million sewerage system – in some cases 18 years ahead of its scheduled rollout.
At the 2 July project launch in Rye, Victorian Minister for Water Peter Walsh said the project to sewer Southern Mornington Peninsula would replace an out-dated and often unhygienic septic tank system. The southern Mornington Peninsula is the last unsewered area in Melbourne’s south-east.
“Rye residents are starting to enjoy the benefits of connecting to the reticulated sewerage system and, with this project launched today, residents in surrounding areas now have the option of choosing to connect to the system ahead of the scheduled rollout,” said Walsh.
“Poorly maintained or overflowing septic tanks pose a risk to public health, the environment and waterways," he said. "So the sooner properties can switch to the reticulated system, the better."
Provider South East Water has developed new technology to fast track the project, freeing up capacity in the existing sewage-transfer system and enabling up to 4000 early connections. Customers can choose to pay for an early connection, or stick with the scheduled program, which will begin in Rye and work progressively towards Portsea.
“In the largest project of its type in Australian history, construction of the entire reticulation network of 230 kilometres of pipes will occur in less than 30 months – rather than within the conventional timeframe of 16 years,” Walsh said.
South East Water Managing Director Kevin Hutchings said he was keen to progress works on the project, which had been in planning for several years.
“In some instances, for example in Portsea and Sorrento, ECO [early connection option] customers will be able to connect to the sewerage network almost 18 years earlier through the connection schedule,” Hutchings said.
In the picture: Left to right, South East Water Managing Director – Kevin Hutchings, Victorian Minister for Water – Peter Walsh, Victorian Minister for Education and local member for Nepean – Martin Dixon.