Western Treatment Plant Open Day 2010
Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant Open Day tours were held on 14 March 2010 as part of the Weerama Festival.
People were able to discover the diversity at the Western Treatment Plant and how Melbourne Water is protecting our environment for future generations in Melbourne’s west.
Here are the tours that were available at the Open Day 2010:
General Tour (Ones and Twos)
The Western Treatment Plant is a world leader in environmentally sensitive sewage treatment. It provides an essential public health service for Melbourne, and has done for over 100 years - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
On the General Tour, find out:
- how sewage is treated at the plant
- how methane gas is used to generate electricity to power the plant
- how recycled water is created and who uses it
- what we do to help Port Phillip Bay by reducing the amount of nitrogen in effluent from the plant.
Biodiversity Tour (Birds and Bush)
The Western Treatment Plant is an internationally recognised haven for birdlife, and home to many native wildlife and plant species.
On the Biodiversity Tour, see birds and plants that make up the diversity of life here, and find out:
- how we conserve biodiversity
- what we do to protect and enhance habitat
- how new conservation areas at the plant help significant plant and animal species.
Farm Tour (Cows and Crops)
The Western Treatment Plant includes a working farm, with a long tradition in Werribee. On the Farm Tour, visit cropping and livestock areas of the plant and find out:
- the long and colourful history of farming at the plant
- why there’s a farm at a sewage treatment plant
- what crops and animals we have on the farm
- how the farms gets its water
- how we look after biodiversity
- what we’re planning to make the farm more sustainable.