Melbourne water has played a significant role in the city’s
development from creating underground sewerage in the 1890’s to completion of
Thomson Reservoir the city’s largest in 1984.
1891 - Melbourne Water’s predecessor, The
Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works was formed to take responsibility for
both water supply and the treatment of sewage.
1892 - Construction began on Melbourne’s
sewerage system, a treatment farm was built at Werribee and a pumping station
at Spotswood.
1897 - Known as the Western Treatment plant
the former Werribee farm, began operation and the first homes were connected.
1910 to 1970 - The Great Depression and two
world wars caused delays in construction extensions and Improvements to both
the sewerage and drainage systems.
1970 - The Environment Protection Act 1970
ensured a major improvement in river health.
1999 - Melbourne Water announces ‘The Healthy
Bay Initiative’, which includes the construction of ten wetlands in the SE
growth corridor.
2004 - ‘Our Water Our Future’ a long-term plan
for water conservation to sustain growth was implemented. It also aimed to
reduce nitrogen loads in Port Philip Bay and make available recycled water for
farms parks and market gardens.
Western
treatment plant: The
western treatment plant today provides a haven for tens of thousands of birds
(284 species have been recorded) thanks to a variety of landforms, the
permanent water supply and lots of different tree and plant species. The area
is one of the most popular sites for bird watching in Victoria. Threatened
Species here are Brolga and the
Orange Bellied Parrot.
Shorebirds: There are many different species of
which 75% are migratory; some of Australia’s rarest have been recorded here
including the Asian Dowitcher and the Buff Breasted Sandpiper. 16,000 shorebirds feed on the mudflats
and the discharge of the treated effluent enriches the inter-tidal mudflats. Some
which have been recorded are: Red kneed Dotterel; Red necked Avocet; Red Necked
Stint; Lewin’s Rail; Pied Cormorant and Water-fowl. It is an important refuge
for these during drought and the duck hunting season. Chestnut Teal and
Freckled Duck are two other birds of interest.
Eastern
treatment plant: The eastern treatment plant is home to a
large native bird population. Types found here include Superb Fairy-wren; Magpie
Lark; White plumed Honeyeater; Black Swan and Grey Teal. The plant offers birds lots of food such as water plants,
zooplankton, aquatic insect larvae and flying insects.
Edithvale-Seaford
wetland: This is the largest remaining natural wetland
of its kind in the Port Philip/West-ernport region with an estimated 7000 birds
at any one time calling it home.
This little story proves that many
birds and bird species rely for at least part of each year on Melbourne sewer-age
for their survival. Some of the migratory ones travel 24,000 kilometres each year
and tagged ones have made this journey ten times in their lifetime. Considering it all began in the
1890’s as a sewerage plant and today it is still a sewerage plant but also a
bird wonderland.
Could
we consider this - Werribee Wetlands and Wyreema Wetlands??!!!
(Article by Diane Turner)
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