Melbourne Water has begun works on the new 350-metre bypass pipeline at the St Albans Reservoir, with residents told to expect temporary disruptions, including increased machinery noise and vehicle traffic in the area.
To install the pipeline, works will be underway until late September at 227 Taylors Road in St Albans and will include some tree and vegetation removal, excavation for new trenches, and asphalt road reinstatement.
For St Albans locals, there will be a short-term increase in noise in the area, and at times there may be temporary changes to traffic conditions, including lane closures, road closures and parking restrictions.
Once complete, this new infrastructure will directly link the existing St Albans to Werribee Pipeline with the Western Transfer Main and to the Greenvale and Winneke reservoirs.
This connection will significantly strengthen the water network, enhancing the capacity to meet increasing water demands in the region.
The integration will ensure that Melbourne Water can consistently deliver enough water from its upstream reservoirs, like Greenvale and Winneke, to key downstream reservoirs, even during peak demand or unexpected disruptions.
As works continue, the organisation, in collaboration with Brimbank council, will repurpose removed vegetation for sustainable and community-focused initiatives, including donating timber to the Westvale Men’s Shed and utilising mulch in local parks and gardens.
Work will continue Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5.30 pm and on Saturdays, from 7 am to 1 pm.