Following a wet and stormy start to 2024, we are continuing our odour mitigation works at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant.

Currently, we conduct odour monitoring twice a week. This will continue as we are conscious odour can traditionally arise in warmer months.

Despite heavy rain, we have been able to manage higher inflows to the site without impacts to the plant. We continue to manage our lagoons in a strategic way to reduce the likelihood of odour.

An update on our actions:

• We have received feedback from an odour industry expert, relating to monitoring and mitigating odour. This advice has been taken on board and is being incorporated into our processes.
• Work to establish a solution to contain odours near our wastewater screening area remains in the design stage.
• Planned works to refurbish biofilters at the site are expected to start in late February.
• We continue to investigate contingency for our odour extraction fans, to ensure we always have spares on standby, as well as refurbishing the existing fans.

We’ve added a new way to report any odour issues to us. An online form is available at connect.coliban.com.au/bendigo-wrp-upgrade-project, which can be found on the right-hand side of the web page.

We strongly encourage you to phone us anytime 24/7 on 1300 363 200 for urgent matters or if you need to report odour to us. The more that we receive these reports, the more we can build a picture of the areas of our plant which need the most urgent attention.