Innovation flows at the Western Treatment Plant

BMD Constructions is delivering the final stage of Melbourne Water’s three-stage upgrade program, which includes building a new nutrient removal plant that will process 150 million litres of wastewater daily. Throughout the project, the team is also pioneering impressive innovations. With the Western Treatment Plant treating about half of Melbourne’s sewage, this project addresses both the city’s historical and future growth. It is also renewing aging infrastructure, enhancing plant efficiency, and improving safety for operations and maintenance. As BMD continues to grow, an unwavering commitment to holistic sustainability is exemplified in projects like the Western Treatment Plant. BMD Constructions General Manager VIC/SA/TAS, Ivan Fratric, articulates the vision driving onsite innovations. “Minimising environmental impact and creating lasting legacies for our clients and the communities we work in has always been a priority at BMD. We bring fresh thinking and ideas on how to minimise our immediate environmental footprint, collaborate with our clients to try new technologies and processes and continue to test and measure what we deliver to ensure long term sustainability expectations are being met,” Ivan said. Some of the exciting innovations being brought to life on the project include:

• Water-saving testing: utilising a more efficient ‘individual joint testing’ method for pipelines, using less water than traditional methods.
• Eco-friendly concrete: by teaming up with designers and concrete plants, BMD has created custom precast panels with high recycled content, keeping performance strong.
• Operating Hyundai Kona electric vehicles onsite: two 40kW charging stations have been installed at the site compound, capable of charging all four BMD vehicles simultaneously, with the vehicles soon to be charged primarily by renewable energy from Melbourne Water’s electricity network, which draws gas from the treatment process.
• Solar-powered lighting: solar light towers have been installed to cut down on electricity use and reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
• Supporting youth: social enterprise Social Engine setup an onsite cafe, offering jobs and training to at-risk youth while keeping the project team well fed.
• Recycling coffee grounds: coffee grounds have been collected from the Social Engine cafe and delivered to Wormlovers to be re-used.

  BMD champions innovation by seeing things differently. Environmental and social considerations are integrated into the way business is done, delivering lasting certainty for the communities being served. With works on track to be delivered by July 2025, the Western Treatment Plant project will further reinforce BMD’s capabilities in delivering leading infrastructure for the water and wastewater sector. To learn more about the project, click here.