Our Castlemaine WRP Upgrade project had three important approvals this year beginning the Development License Approval from the Environment Protection Authority in April and Planning Permit approval from Mount Alexander Shire Council in July.

In September, the state government approved for the Business Case to construct a new plant at the Langslow Street site.

These approvals have allowed us to move forward with our plan to replace the current plant that has served the community since the late 1990s.

The project team has now commenced the procurement process, hosting an industry briefing for interested parties in late September and an Expressions of Interest period from late October to early December.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2027.

November saw us welcome the community to the Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant.

Our Community Open Day gave people a close up look at how we treat wastewater at the plant, what we have planned for the future and how we work with community groups in the area.

Joining us on the day were the Friends of Campbells Creek, Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association, Bird Life Castlemaine, McKenzie Hill Action and Landcare Group and North Central Catchment Management Authority to talk about their projects that benefit the area while our project team was able to update people on the upgrade.

The finished with a tour of the plant as we explained to the people how wastewater is treated and turned into recycled water.

This year saw us work closely with the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents’ Association to breathe new life into the Pioneers Cemetery Reserve.

The reserve sits alongside the plant and is an important part of our early colonial history. It is believed to be the final resting place of eight individuals interred between 1852 and 1854, recognised by a monument erected by the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents’ Association in 1887.

Throughout the year we created new pathways and completed landscaping with new signage installed in November to

highlight the features of the reserve.

Our new bird hide – installed in partnership with Bird Life Castlemaine – opened in August.

The new viewing shelter gives birdwatchers visiting the lagoons at the reclamation plant a safe, accessible, and comfortable space for everyone to enjoy.

This hide is accessible through the Old Pioneers Cemetery Reserve. To gain access, you will need to email bcwrp.upgrade@coliban.com.au and fill out a Bird Hide User Agreement.

A number of people have already taken the opportunity to fill our agreement and get on the lookout for the feathered friends who call our plant home.

During the year we completed essential works on key parts of our wastewater treatment process.

This was led by cleaning an inspection and maintenance on two of the aeration tanks which add oxygen to the wastewater and allow microbes to do their job.

To complete the works we had to empty the two tanks, allowing our team to access the bottom of the tank and repair pipework and replace air diffusers at the bottom of the tank. Diffusers add small bubbles of air to the tank, which help the treatment process.

Other works completed this year included work on our Dissolved Air Flotation tanks and Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion system.

We inspected and re-coated the steel lining on our two DAF tanks that help thicken sludge before it goes to the ATAD system.

We also cleaned and inspecting our ATADs, which turn sewage sludge into a valued biosolids product for agricultural reuse.

During July and August we replaced an old stream gauge, installed an electronic sensor and removed overgrown vegetation in Campbells Creek near the Castlemaine WRP.

The new stream gauge allows us to better measure flow rates and other data in the waterway. It collects real-time data on water levels and the health of the water flowing through the creek.

This data is shared with DEECA and DJAARA to understand water quality, habitat health and potential droughts or floods – improving the health of the creek for animals that call Campbells Creek home.