PB role: multidisciplinary engineering and environmental design services

The Gippsland Water Factory in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, is a pioneering wastewater treatment and recycling plant: the first of its kind in Australia.

When PB first began working with Gippsland Water on the project in 2001, the focus was to develop a management strategy to solve some immediate environmental issues (especially odour) associated with Gippsland Water’s regional outfall sewer. However, over several successive stages, the project's focus widened to the long-term sustainability of the whole region’s water supply, and the variety of benefits the plant could deliver.

Wastewater treated at the Gippsland Water Factory will come from 15,000 homes and businesses in nine Gippsland towns, and Australian Paper's Maryvale Mill. The plant will treat up to 35 million litres of domestic and industrial wastewater daily. Australian Paper is the initial customer and will purchase treated water for use at its mill expansion. The remaining highly treated wastewater will be distributed along the regional outfall sewer, free of odour causing organics.

The plant is also reducing its carbon footprint. An unambiguous target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% off a theoretical benchmark of 52,102 tonnes CO2-e/year was set. This was to ensure the project was well placed for the potential introduction of an emissions trading scheme in Australia. The Gippsland Water Factory will reduce annual emissions by approximately 13,681 tonnes of CO2-e, a 29% reduction off the benchmark.

The plant is much more than an infrastructure project—it is creating a social and environmental legacy for future generations.