Biosolids processing has stopped for the season
We want to update our communities in Camperdown, Hamilton and Portland on what’s happening at our biosolids facilities in their area.
What’s happening at each facility
Camperdown
Processing at the Camperdown facility has now finished for the season.
We paused bringing sludge to the site for as long as possible. To meet our safety, environmental and regulatory requirements, we now need to restart. Carting resumed at the start of June.
We’ll keep working to reduce impacts as much as we can, by using solutions such as the onsite misting system. However, there may still be times when odour is noticeable. We’ll continue to monitor conditions and respond quickly to any to any concerns or complaints.
Hamilton
Processing at the Hamilton site has been completed for this season.
Carting to the site is currently paused. This will make sure there’s enough space for material from a planned desludge of the Hamilton sewage lagoon later this year.
Portland
Processing at the Portland facility has stopped for the season. Carting to the site has also been paused.
Our stockpile of fully processed biosolids has been transported to our agricultural partners in the region for use as a soil conditioner.
What’s happening now?
The Warrnambool Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade is now complete.
The upgrade will significantly improve how we manage growing volumes of household and regional industrial waste. Over time, it’s also expected to improve the quality of material processed at our biosolids facilities and help reduce odour impacts.
We’ll also continue to assess the option to cover new sludge with dry biosolids as this has been shown to significantly reduce odour. However, there are limits to how often we can use this method as it affects how we process biosolids and reduces the space we need to safely store sludge.
What’s happening longer term?
We’re investigating options for long‑term regional biosolids management. Our preferred solution is a new regional biosolids processing facility, designed to significantly reduce impacts on nearby communities.
