Victoria’s largest underground Water Recycling Facility (WRF) in Yarra Park adjacent to the MCG is fast becoming a reality, with construction nearing completion and water to be supplied to the parkland ahead of schedule.
The $22m project, funded by the Melbourne Cricket Club ($16m) and the Victorian Government ($6m), will treat sewage from the local sewerage network to ‘Class A’ recycled water standards.
The water will then be re-used primarily as irrigation in Yarra Park, as well as for cleaning and toilet flushing at the MCG and nearby Punt Road Oval.
The plant will be able to produce over 600 kilolitres of recycled water per day.
As one of the first of its type in Victoria, the recycling facility has been built underground, out of public view, without taking way from valuable surface land use or park amenity.
The recycled water treatment process will consist of screening and grit removal, biological treatment of the sewage and chemical addition for phosphate removal, filtration via membrane bioreactor (MBR) and ultrafiltration (UF) membrane systems, and disinfection via ultraviolet (UV) and chlorination.
Tenix is the most credentialed MBR integrator in Australia, having completed 10 turnkey MBR and MBR/RO plants for potable water replacement, irrigation or beneficial discharge to the environment, and with another three MBR plants under construction and others in design and piloting.
“This development of a water recycling facility is a major initiative in our Master Plan for the long-term health and viability of Yarra Park,” said MCC environment and turf development manager Tony Ware.
“It will also substantially reduce our reliability on potable water and increase the amenity for all park users.”
Contractor Tenix is busily preparing for the all-important installation of a roof on the 25 x 31 metre site adjacent to the Gate 2 members’ entrance.
Once the three-part roof is assembled by late-March 2012, soil will be placed over the top and Victoria’s largest underground water recycling facility will be almost entirely hidden from view.
From April, the facility will undergo a comprehensive testing regime to ensure the water quality meets EPA guidelines. If all goes to plan, the taps will be turned on in June/July, 2012
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