Media Release: MELBOURNE WATER TO PROVIDE LAND FOR BARWON BIOSOLIDS

FROM THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MINISTER FOR WATER

DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 2003

MELBOURNE WATER TO PROVIDE LAND FOR BARWON BIOSOLIDS

The Bracks Government has overseen an agreement between Barwon Water and Melbourne Water to provide land at the Western Treatment Plant for a Barwon Water biosolids facility.

The Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, said the agreement meant the Government had ruled out using Woolondoon as a site for the facility.

“The agreement which has come about with the assistance of the Member for Geelong Province, Elaine Carbines, has removed the need for a separate temporary site at Woolondoon,” Mr Thwaites said.

“We recognise that the Woolondoon proposal has been of concern to the local community and I am pleased to announce that Melbourne Water will provide land at the Western Treatment Plant for Barwon Water to establish a temporary biosolids drying facility.”

The agreement will see Melbourne Water extending a current arrangement while Barwon Water develops a comprehensive biosolids management strategy.

Barwon Water’s own biosolids storage facility at its Black Rock treatment plant has been full for some time.

Melbourne Water has land available at the Western Treatment Plant suitable for the Barwon Water operation and this approach has been endorsed by EPA Victoria.

“Both Melbourne Water and Barwon Water recognise the need to establish sustainable biosolids management plans that respond to the needs of the environment and the community.

“The Bracks Government is committed to sustainable beneficial use of biosolids across the state and has established a strategy for achieving this goal.

“At the Eastern Treatment Plant, Melbourne Water is well on the way towards achieving 100 per cent beneficial use – for example, recycling the biosolids into fertiliser or soil conditioner for neighbouring farms.

“At the Western Treatment Plant a number of projects are currently being established to achieve similar results by 2010.

“Melbourne Water has developed some innovative approaches for the beneficial use of biosolids. These include letting contracts with soil blenders to take biosolids from the Eastern Treatment Plan and investigating using biosolids from the Western Treatment Plant as fuel for cement kilns.”