Progress Report
Status update #25 – 28 May 2021 (FINAL)
The lagoon cover is complete and gas is being extracted through the flare from the entire lagoon at the Shepparton High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon. Site clean-up works and minor works are progressing well.
There have been some challenges along the way including a pandemic and a windstorm evert. The contractor, sub-contractors, suppliers and GVW staff rose to the challenges to deliver this project as quickly as possible.
As the cover is now complete and back in operation this will be the final project update. We again would like to thank the customers and the community in the surrounding area for their patience and interest during these works.
Status update #24 – 14 May 2021
Works are slowing down at the Shepparton High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon, with final site clean up and commissioning underway at the site. With the cover now in place, and other minor works continuing without incident, it gives us the opportunity to turn to the customers in this update.
Thanks must go to customers and community in the surrounding areas and housing estates for your patience over the duration of these works. Now that the cover has been replaced, it is even more important that you contact our call centre if you experience significant odour episodes in your area, so we can investigate further. Although we will continue to monitor odour in the areas surrounding the site ongoing, please call 1800 45 45 00 in these instances to alert us.
We will provide one final update when commissioning is complete, until then thank you for your interest in this work. We always do make every effort we can to minimise the impacts of this significant facility on our growing town, and we will continue to do so.
Thanks again, and watch out for our final HRAL Cover Replacement update coming soon.
Status update #23 – 30 April 2021
After a solid ten months of work by contractors, the Goulburn Valley Water High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon at Daldy Rd is now 100% covered by the replacement cover.
This is a significant milestone for the project, with the lagoon having been exposed to some degree since the end of June last year. However, although the cover itself is complete now, there is still work continuing with the ballast tubes over the settling zone still to be filled with grout. Dismantling of the works barge will commence within next two weeks, and cover drainage system works are still to take place.
Gas flaring is underway, but from the reaction zone initially - soon to occur from the settling zone also.
Customers continue to demonstrate patience with GVW which we genuinely appreciate. Efforts to address any odour concerns of note continue, and we still welcome calls related to odour in the Northern parts of Shepparton. Call 1800 45 45 00 any time or email us at mail@gvwater.vic.gov.au
Status update #22 – 16 April 2021
With the majority of the cover now installed, we successfully removed the works barge from the lagoon last week as planned. Works continue as planned on battening and sealing the cover, and are progressing well - and with the cover being progressively sealed, we expect odour from this lagoon to continue becoming less frequent or strong. We're also aiming for gas extraction from the full cover by mid-May and with works continuing to progress smoothly, we're on track to meet this target.
We also captured this fantastic image showing the continued progress on the cover replacement project, with the nearby solar panels and the aerated lagoons in the background.
Status update #21 – 1 April 2021
As we head into the Easter Weekend we are inching closer to completion of the installation phase of the High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon (HRAL) cover replacement project. The cover over the settling zone is over 90% complete, with nearly half of the sides having been battened and sealed.
The barge will be removed next week, which will allow the last two rolls of cover material to be installed. By mid-May it is hoped that the cover will have been commissioned and the job will be complete, until then we continue steadily and hopefully without incident.
In the meantime, the gas flare continues to be operational and is drawing from the reaction zone. The expectation is, due to this capturing and flaring process, odour will not be as strong or as frequent as when the lagoon was fully exposed. We welcome feedback from customers on this issue, if you wish to alert us to odour episodes impacting you please call our Customer Service Centre on 1800 45 45 00.
Status update #20 – 19 March 2021
We continue to progress at a solid rate on the installation of the new cover on the GVW High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon, with only 10 of 52 panels still remaining to be constructed. The end is certainly beginning to feel near, after almost consistent construction works taking place at the Daldy Rd facility since the end of June 2020. Thanks to everyone impacted by this project so far for their continued patience.
Also, after several weeks of commissioning, the flare is operating, burning the gas collected under the new cover at the reaction zone end. This is a significant milestone after having been offline for around 8 months. We have looked forward to this as it means were are again able to convert biogas into renewable energy as part of our commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
If customers have questions or wish to discuss the project they are invited to contact GVW Customer Service Centre on 1800 45 45 00, or email mail@gvwater.vic.gov.au.
Status update #19 – 5 March 2021
The replacement of the High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon is steadily continuing and on track, with 70% of the cover now in place.
Image dated 1st March 2021
Throughout these works there continue to be occasions on which customers and the community might notice odour from the site. GVW operates frost fans to minimise these impacts on customers. In current weather conditions the fans are turned on remotely following daily observations of forecasted conditions – these checks occur throughout the day and periodically overnight, and aim to ensure our customers are impacted by odour as infrequently as possible.
The reaction zone of the cover has been sealed, to allow capture of as much methane as possible. Ballast pipes are in the process of being filled with grout provide weight on the cover, this additional weight on the cover provides some stability to the cover as the gas generated in the lagoon lifts the cover off, this work will be continue over coming weeks. Once the ballast on the reaction zone is complete full time operation of the gas flare will commence.
We make every attempt to minimise odour from our facilities, however if you do experience odour or have any other related concerns please phone our customer service centre on 1800 45 45 00.
Status update #18 – 19 February 2021
There has been little progress of note this fortnight with the enforced break pausing works on the cover installation for several days. The contractors continued to work on the cover installation at a solid rate when able, and commissioning of the gas flare has been underway in recent weeks.
The gas flare coming online again is significant, as it is a step closer to resuming the process of converting the biogas into renewable energy. As part of our commitment to reducing carbon emissions, we have been turning biogas produced at the WMF into green energy since 2007. Under the right conditions, microorganisms break down sewage in the reaction zone of the HRAL to produce flammable biogas that can be used to generate electricity.
Renewable energy is just one of the ways we are reducing our environmental footprint while still providing high quality and reliable services to our customers. We look forward to providing another update in two weeks time, when we hope to announce that the gas flare is again operational, and this process is back online.
As always, our customer service centre is manned 24/7 and we invite calls regarding this project or other operational issues or concerns any time, on 1800 45 45 00.
Status update #17 – 5 February 2021
The HRAL cover replacement project is still tracking well, with the cover over the reaction zone having now been fully fastened and sealed. This has allowed recommissioning of the gas flare to commence, with this process soon to be functioning again ongoing, after being offline for nearly seven months. In the interim all the existing odour control measures will remain in place.
Installation of the cover over the settling zone, the other section of the HRAL lagoon, is underway, with about 20% already covered. In total we are now close to having 50% of the overall cover in place. Based on recent progress we are now expecting to have the cover completed in May this year. This is an adjusted timeline following the localised windstorm at the end of 2020, and we do apologise for needing to shift this end date out by a few weeks.
In addition to the cover installation work, the sludge removed from the lagoon last year has now dried and is currently being moved into a stockpile on the WMF site. The odour impacts of this process have been minimal so far, with a light organic smell at times - apologies if this has impacted you at any stage.
We will continue to update this page fortnightly as works continue, but are pleased with progress and that there is little to report in this space. As always please do call our staff on 1800 45 45 00 to discuss any project information, or odour impacts that may be affecting you and your family - we thank you for your continued patience.
Status update #16 – 22 January 2021
We are now nearing seven months of construction at the HRAL facility in Daldy Rd, and works continue to move through at a consistent rate towards our April end date.
The cover over the reaction zone, which is the more odourous section of the lagoon, is now permanently fixed and sealed along the northern and southern sides of the lagoon. Work to complete the sealing on the eastern side will be completed next week, and gas collection pipework will then be reinstalled, with recommencement of operation of the flare not far away.
In addition to this, works have now commenced on the cover installation over the remaining part of the lagoon, the settling zone, which will be the main focus once the reaction cover is finished and gas collection and flaring is taking place.
The coming weekend is forecast to be hot with light winds which has the potential to generate odours. The project team will be monitoring the wind strength and operating the misting fans when required. If you are experiencing odours at any time we do apologise, please be assured that the project team and GVW staff, some of whom are also residents of the northern estates, are continually monitoring the situation and reacting in an effort to eliminate any impacts on customers and community in the vicinity.
We are sorry if odours from our facility affect you in any way, please remember you are always welcome to call our Customer Service Centre on 1800 45 45 00 to alert us to any odour issues that may be impacting you.
The cover over the reaction zone has now permanently battened down and sealed along the northern and southern sides
Testing and commissioning activities of the cover are expected to be completed by the end of next week
Status update #15 – 8 January 2021
After a short break over Christmas and New Year, contractors are back on site as of this week to continue work to install the new cover over the High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon in Shepparton.
Although it looks like one large basin, the lagoon is essentially in two parts, with the reaction zone up one end home to one part of the treatment process, and the wastewater then moving through into the settling zone, which is a less odourous process step. We can report that the cover is now over the reaction zone and has been permanently and sealed to the concrete edge beam. Over the next two weeks the rest of the cover will be secured and sealed to the concrete edge beam and the gas collection pipework will be reinstalled allowing the gas produced from the reaction zone to be burnt which will reduce gas emissions and odours. Installation of the settling zone will commence in about a week's time. We hope that this might result in less frequent odour impacts on customers in surrounding areas, although we do still encourage customers to contact 1800 45 45 00 if there is a need to provide feedback or to alert our staff to an issue.
We reported previously some information regarding the windstorm and the damage at the site as a result, below you will see the damaged cover in November, and a more recent image showing the recovery process. Teams that worked to get the project back on track are to be commended and we thank everyone for their efforts and successful recovery following this event.
Immediately following storm damage - November 2020
After recovery - December 2020
HRAL Cover Removal Project Progress - January 2021
Status update #14 – 24 December 2020
We are a day early for our update this cycle as tomorrow is Christmas Day, and there is little to report regarding progress as a result.
Plans for the new year involve reinitiation of the gas extraction and flaring process, which involves the capturing of gas to generate renewable energy to export to the electricity grid. This will be a significant milestone for the project and we are on track to recommence this in January.
And further to our last update, a number of improvement steps have been implemented in some residential pockets as part of investigations into possible localised odour issues, we will keep you updated of findings as these become available.
We do hope that customers in the residential areas of northern Shepparton feel they can enjoy outdoor festivities for the Christmas and New Year period. Misting sprays continue to operate and two frost fans are run most nights in an effort to minimise any odour impacts from the works that have taken place this year at the HRAL site. If you do experience any odour and need to alert us to an issue our Customer Service Centre will continue to be manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, over the summer months, including public holidays - so please contact 1800 45 45 00 to speak to someone about these issues if they impact you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, we look forward to providing more updates for you in 2021.
Status update #13 – 11 December 2020
A month on from a severe localised windstorm causing damage at the construction site, the final stages of the required repair work of the cover were completed this week. A full inspection has found that the repairs meet the required standards and the remaining sections of the cover have been found to be in good condition. This is welcome news following some uncertainty in the immediate aftermath of the storm event, the repair and replacement work required was less extensive than first thought and a month on we are back on track.
To ensure similar damage does not occur again, a range of efforts have been made to temporarily fix the cover in place, with both the edges and the barge now held down with water filled ballast tubes, concrete blocks and sandbags.
Other progress looking forward includes turning of the sludge in the drying pans, which may cause a short term increase in odour, and gas extraction through the flare, which is expected to recommence before the end of January.
We hope leading into the Christmas and New Year holiday period that our customers in the impact zone can enjoy festivities outdoors as normal! Investigations into possible localised odour issues are underway in some residential pockets - a number of improvement steps have been implemented, and although these are still at a trial stage and their effectiveness won't be known for some time, we are optimistic that these changes will successfully reduce the frequency of odour episodes experienced by some customers.
We remain hopeful that customers in Northern Shepparton will enjoy the warmer months with as little impact as possible from the HRAL cover removal project and any Operations investigations locally, but if you do experience offensive odour that GVW should be alerted to during this time please call 1800 45 45 00 as usual.
Status update #12 – 27 November 2020
A very eventful two weeks has seen some excellent progress on the windstorm recovery at the Shepparton HRAL.
Following a localised windstorm just over a fortnight ago, where the new cover was lifted and folded back onto itself, an inspection of the cover by experts deemed that most sections of the cover could be reused and do not need to be replaced. Following these findings the cover has now been pulled back out and put back almost into position.
There is a section of the reaction zone cover (less than 5%) that has been deemed to either need replacing, or require intensive repair, which equates to about 800 square metres. Some of this work has already taken place, and the final section is in progress, with the repair works expected to be completed by the end of next week.
GVW met with the EPA on site during the week, with representatives acknowledging progress and GVW's efforts to address the issue of the damaged material, and odour mitigation efforts.
Moving forward, it is expected that the cover over the reaction zone will be secured, sealed and back in use by the end of January, with the gas pipework being reinstalled shortly prior. As stated previously, the project completion of early March is now unlikely given the delays associated with the windstorm - to which extent is still being determined.
Regarding odours, the sludge in the drying pan is to be turned over starting next week, and there is a chance of an increase in odour in the vicinity of the facility for several days as a result. We ask for continued patience while this work takes place, as the weather conditions become warmer we can expect occasional episodes of odour, depending on the wind direction and other associated causes. We are sorry for any impacts on customers and the community and will continue to use staff to patrol and report back on noticable odours - but welcome your feedback on this also.
Status update #11 – 13 November 2020
As we’ve reported previously, work on the HRAL Cover Removal project was tracking well and we had been on schedule to complete the work at the Daldy Rd facility by March 2021.
Following a localised wind storm event on the afternoon of Wednesday 11 November the end date is now expected to be extended, as the cover over the new reaction zone was damaged. The extent of the damage is still being assessed by GVW, along with the contractor and our consultants. Unfortunately the damage will impact the timelines due to works now required to repair this section.
The new cover, which was lifted and damaged by the wind event, has now been resecured and there are no safety impacts – there was no-one on site when the storm event occurred and no injuries as a result. However while we are glad to report a safe outcome, we are aware of the potential impacts on the community as this project is now expected to continue beyond our initial expected completion date. The odour mitigation controls including the misting sprays and fans were not damaged and continue to be operated. We are very cognisant of getting the works done as quickly as we are able, and will work with the contractor to minimise the duration of any extension. Customers can be assured that the adjusted timeline will be as short as possible, as all parties are hoping to complete this work efficiently and to minimise any impacts on the Shepparton community.
We are sorry to have to share this news with you and to say we are disappointed with this development is an understatement. We are working to rectify the damage and will continue to keep you updated with progress.
Thank you for your patience while we work through this situation. Once we have determined the way forward and the timing for these works we will provide a more detailed project update.
The extent of the damage is still being assessed by GVW, the contractor and our consultants
Status update #10 – 30 October 2020
We are tracking well with our long term improvement project taking place at Daldy Rd in Shepparton, with works on schedule for completion by March 2021.
The concrete works have now been completed, and the bypass pumps have been removed - and as a result the lagoon was returned to full operating level last weekend. The lagoon is once again looking biologically active with gas bubbles appearing across the surface of the exposed lagoon.
Nearly a quarter of the lagoon is now covered by the new cover, which is to be attached to the gas seal in the final week of installation, when that time comes. With two sections - the reaction zone and the settling zone - the lagoon is viewed by GVW as having two discrete components, the first of which is expected to be completed by the end of November. The installation over the settling zone is then expected to be completed by March 2021.
As previously mentioned, misting sprays continue to operate and two frost fans have been set up on site and are run most nights. We are attempting to minimise any odour impacts but advise you to contact mail@gvwater.vic.gov.au if you would like a GVW staff member to call you to discuss, to either understand more about the project and our efforts, or to let us know your perspective on these issues.
We thank you again for your patience and understanding, we hope you are feeling informed and that the impacts of the works are not affecting you significantly, or ideally, at all.
Status update #9 – 16 October 2020
Watch our new video below, which explains the cover replacement project, its timelines and why we're doing it now.
Status update #8 – 2 October 2020
Repair works on the lagoon outlet weir are well underway. The lagoon outlet is currently being bypassed through the use of some large pumps to keep the water level lower to allow these works to occur. Once the water level was lowered, we found the existing concrete was in better condition than was expected, and works are now underway to repair sections as needed, before the structure is resealed.
Works to install the new cover are set to begin next week. The cover will be progressively installed as each 8m wide roll of cover material is welded in position, with crews working across the new barge.
Two large industrial fans have arrived on site and are being turned on preventatively to help manage odour when weather conditions indicate it might be having an impact.
We thank everyone for their patience while works are being carried out.
The works barge ready to start cover installation
Concreting and repair works on the outflow weir at the low reactivity zone area.
One of the industrial-sized fans on site.
Status update #7 - 18 September 2020
After several weeks of sludge removal works, 1,200 dry tonne of sludge has now been moved from the lagoon and into the custom built sludge drying pan next to the facility. This completes the sludge removal stage of the project and the focus will now shift onto the remaining repair works on the HRAL.
Replacement of the 1000m long concrete edge beam has also been completed, with works to construct an outlet weir to begin soon, which will take 3-4 weeks. The water level is currently being lowered to allow these works to take place. Initially this stage was intended to be done by bypassing the lagoon using existing pipes, however given some recent odour impacts we have now altered the plan in an attempt to reduce odour from the site.
The new cover materials have arrived on site and the works barge to enable installation of the cover was assembled on the lagoon last week. Installation over the reaction zone is due to begin in the week of 28th September - this stage of the works should be completed in November, and at that point the installation of the remaining cover sections will begin.
Regarding odour, the misting sprays continue to operate but as we have seen the misting has not addressed this issue effectively in all cases. An odour consultant has visited the site and we are awaiting further advice on what further actions may be available to mitigate odour.
Thanks again to customers and residents for their patience as these works continue, we do appreciate your understanding while we undertake these critical works.
Status update #6 - 4 September 2020
Continuing works while the cover is removed (see update below) and weather conditions means odour is continuing to persist and has lingered in some areas of northern Shepparton overnight. We're really sorry for the impact. This odour should dissipate as the temperature rises.
Northerly winds are predicted over coming days, which means odour may be intermittently experienced again. Generally, odour will dissipate in the mornings as the temperature rises or with a wind change away from the north. Odour minimising systems are in place to help throughout the project - we appreciate your patience while we carry out these critical works.
Status update #5 - 3 September 2020
Works to desludge the High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon (HRAL) are continuing, and odour has become more evident again today for residents in some parts of North Shepparton.
The project to replace the cover is several months in, and will continue until March 2021. The cover was removed at the end of July and GVW is taking the opportunity to remove 1000 tonnes of sludge and scum out of the lagoon before installing the replacement.
The scum and sludge from the base of the lagoon is mixed using an excavator and is then pumped to a sludge drying pan using a large pump, which is expected to take around four weeks to complete.
Once the scum and sludge is removed a works platform will be assembled on the lagoon to allow the new cover installation to commence, which should begin by the end of October.
GVW will continue to investigate the source of any feedback to our call centre on odour so please feel free to provide accurate, factual information to GVW's service desk that may alert staff to an issue.
Again we apologise if these works are having an impact on the community, progress to replace the HRAL cover is on schedule and so it is hoped that as the project nears completion the impacts will be minimised. Thank you to our customers and residents in the impact zone of the project for their patience and understanding.
Status update #4 - 19 August 2020
We are now eight weeks into our significant Wastewater Management Facility upgrade project, to replace the cover of the High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon (HRAL).
Some residents in north Shepparton have fed back to GVW that they are experiencing intermittent odour in their residential area.
We value the feedback on this, odour complaints from the public are an essential part of GVW's maintenance program. As we are unable to have staff at all sites at all times, we do rely on accurate and timely complaints. These are then further investigated by trained staff, to assist us in managing our extensive sewerage network and associated infrastructure, including wastewater management facilities, and to assist us to understand the source.
There are a number of facilities in the area that at times are the source of a range of odour issues.
It is most likely that any odour impacts are increased by the weather conditions and we continue to log feedback received on this. In most cases we expect the impacts to come and go, they tend to come in bursts due to the way we expect odour to behave in various weather conditions.
We are sorry for any impacts of GVW's works on the community, we are working to complete these works as quickly as possible but we are only part way through and there is still some time before the cover will be back on the HRAL. We again thank customers and residents for their patience regarding this project.
Status update #3 - 07 August 2020
The HRAL cover has now been off for two weeks, and the surface of the lagoon has been entirely exposed during this time.
Our customers and the local residents have been very patient, we thank them for their understanding regarding the odour impacts and the construction work at the site. These impacts are lower than we had anticipated so far, likely due to the very cold conditions, so for now we are pleased that the impact of odour on surrounding areas has been minimal. This may continue, or could change as the weather warms up, and if so we will respond to customer queries on this accordingly.
Since the last update, investigations on the sludge have shown that over 1000 tonnes of sludge is lining the lagoon and requires removal. Works have commenced to prepare an area for sludge drying in a GVW paddock adjacent to the lagoon. Removal of this sludge and scum from the lagoon to enable the construction of the new cover will commence within the next two weeks, and the removal is expected to take at least five weeks.
It is not expected that construction timelines will be impacted by any restrictions but if this changes we will advise.
Status update #2 - 24 July 2020
We are almost four weeks into the HRAL cover removal project. The entire cover has been removed from the HRAL lagoon, and desludging of the lagoon will now be required before work can begin on the structure itself.
The picture below shows the lagoon and the amount of thick sludge that was beneath the cover. Sludge, or biosolids, is the accumulation of solid waste that bacteria produce when they break down wastewater. These solids settle to the bottom of the lagoons and form a sludge deposit, and it slowly builds up over time.
A sample of this is being laboratory tested and results will determine next steps. There is more than expected there and this may impact timelines down the track - at this stage we are working to schedule but due to the volumes of sludge there may be more work required here than first planned.
In the meantime scope of works are being finalised for repairing the 150m long edge beam of the lagoon.
The sludge build up is significant and next steps are being considered
Status update #1 - 10 July 2020
Two weeks into the HRAL cover removal project, works are progressing at the expected rate.
Half the cover over the settling section of the lagoon has now been removed, which equates to around a quarter of the entire cover. It is a slow process as the cover material is very weak, as can be seen in the video footage further below.
The cover is cut into strips by two people out on the water in an inflatable boat, and the strips are then removed using a small excavator.
As the strips are removed the material is washed with a high pressure hose to remove the muck including sewage, sludge and scum. The material is then loaded into a skip bin using the excavator.
Some sections of the cover are now submerged. These sections have to have the water pumped off before the cover can be removed, as being submerged tends to make these sections messier and require more cleaning. Whilst we apologise to our customers for any odours spare a thought for these people! They are expert at what they do but the work would seem a little 'on the nose' to most.
The cover is cut into strips which are removed using a small excavator
About 25% of the cover has been removed so far
Facility overview and project summary
Wastewater management in Shepparton
Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) is a regional urban water corporation and provides urban water and wastewater services to residences and businesses in over 50 towns in the northern Victorian area. The largest of these serviced towns is Shepparton, with others including Seymour, Kilmore, Mansfield and Cobram, and their surrounding regions.
Wastewater (from household drains, showers and toilets etc, or industrial customers) from Shepparton is then sent to the Wastewater Management Facility (WMF) situated 8.5km north from the city centre, off Barmah-Shepparton Rd. The wastewater received by the plant is a combination of both domestic and industrial output, with over 80% of the average daily inflow produced by food processing centres such as SPC Ardmona and Campbell’s Soup.
The Shepparton Wastewater Management Facility is located 8.5km north of the city centre - photo dated 2011
Wastewater treatment processes used
This unique make up of high industrial contribution results in an inflow equivalent to that of a population of 1.1 million, and to cater for this the Shepparton WMF is home to a particular style of wastewater treatment basin known as a High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon (HRAL). Shepparton’s HRAL - the first of 17 lagoons in the wastewater treatment process - is nearly 50,000m2 in size and is covered by a large 1.14mm thick flexible geosynthetic cover, which is in place to promote ideal anaerobic conditions.
The cover also allows GVW to control odour, and enable the collection and storage of methane gas, which is either burnt off or sold to a third party and used to generate electricity. To put this in perspective, the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee also uses a covered anaerobic lagoon process to cater for the large inflow received from over 1.6 million residential and business customers in Melbourne’s central, northern and western suburbs.
HRAL cover damage
The cover has to contend with repeated pressurisation/depressurisation, UV radiation, high temperatures, contact with byproducts of the treated waste and attack from wildlife such as corellas. A severe wind storm in 2015 also contributed to the development of a large, 200m tear in the cover, which is visible from Google Earth. These issues have contributed to the steady decline of the cover over recent years and it is now at the end of its service life.
Planned works
GVW has been planning a necessary upgrade to the cover on the Shepparton HRAL. Many stopgap repairs have taken place over recent years but GVW has now scheduled a $10.4m project to fully replace the cover to take place during 2020/21. Replacement of the cover will occur over a nine-month period, with the first stage being to remove the old cover which is attached to a concrete edge beam. The new cover will be 2mm-thick High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is regarded as one of the most robust materials in the industry for this particular use. GVW has engaged a specialist contractor experienced in the design and construction of lagoon covers.
Customer impacts - short vs. long term
Over the duration of the works there is expected to be an increase in odour in the area, which will vary in its degree and frequency and will be difficult to predict. These impacts will depend on weather conditions, wind strength/direction, inflow concentration due to industry processing schedules, and distance from the site, among other factors. The works may also impact customers and visitors to parts of Shepparton over this time, and result in a small increase in work traffic on Barmah-Shepparton Rd.
The new cover has been designed to accommodate fluctuations in pressure and ensure optimal anaerobic conditions for an expected life span of 20 years.
Mitigation efforts
We will do everything we can to minimise any impacts on residents and businesses in surrounding areas:
• cover removal timing to coincide with cooler weather and lower industrial flows
• odour modelling to predict the extent and magnitude of the odours
• ongoing odour monitoring during the works to assess what is actually happening
• an odour misting system will be employed onsite and used as required to reduce the extent and magnitude of the odours
• ongoing communications with residents and businesses to address concerns or issues
Other maintenance
While the cover is removed, further maintenance works will take place. Desludging is a common sewerage maintenance process that takes place approximately every 25 years, and involves removal of solids and debris from the bottom of the lagoon.
These biosolids are then stockpiled and left to dry out for 6-12 months, and then used onsite as soil conditioner. Installation of extended biogas collection pipework will also take place. These works, among
other maintenance jobs, will be undertaken during this time.
Project time frames
Works will begin in June, 2020 and could take up to nine months. Following early site preparation works in June, the entire cover will be removed and then the new cover over the high activity reaction zone area of the HRAL will be installed. This is expected to be completed in November 2020, and then the new cover will be installed over the settling zone section.
The entire project is expected to be complete in March* 2021, but timeframes may change as a result of any weather impacts on the schedule. *Works were affected by a severe localised windstorm in November 2020 and the timeframe was altered to April 2021.
There are no health risks associated with any noticeable increase in odour, and GVW is working with the Environment Protection Authority to ensure appropriate protections are in place.
GVW thanks residents, businesses and visitors to the impacted vicinity in advance for their patience and cooperation. Efforts will be made to complete the works as quickly as possible to ensure the odour effects will not persist for any longer than necessary while these critical repairs are carried out.
Want to stay in the loop on this project?
If you would like updates on this project, please let us know your email address and mobile phone number by emailing communications@gvwater.vic.gov.au with ‘HRAL project’ in the subject line.
The tear in the cover is significant, measuring over 200m in length - photo dated 2020
The works to replace the damaged cover will soon be underway - photo dated 2020
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) resource available
It is estimated that over 15% of GVW’s customers living in the vicinity of this project speak a language at home other than English – Shepparton has a highly culturally diverse population . If someone you know needs help to understand the purpose and the impacts of this work then please share this video with them.
Summary of HRAL Cover Removal resources available for download
- The fact sheet is available as a PDF here (804kb).
- The video showing the Shepparton WMF including cover damage is available here.
- The CALD video resource explaining the project is available here.