A decade of sustainable water supply for Melbourne Cricket Ground and wider Yarra Park

Innovative design for underground water facility

The Yarra Park Water Recycling Facility is situated in a heritage listed park. Key drivers dictated that the project should not subtract from the appearance of the grounds, emit odour, noise or impact the use of the space during large events. These facts led to the innovative decision for the water recycling plant to be located entirely underground – an Australian first.

Recycling 600,000 litres of water per day, the treatment process has innovative features, including a membrane bioreactor combined with a contemporary pre-validated Class A process involving ultrafiltration, and UV and chlorine disinfection. In a state first, the configuration of this technology has enabled the production of high-level water quality which meets EPA requirements; unlike comparable facilities, the water recycled in Yarra Park has consistently produced Class A water for an entire decade. 

A large consideration for the project was ensuring the park was resilient to the future impacts of climate change, such as drought or flooding. The facility enables the MCC to reduce its reliance on mains water, improve the resilience of the park with an alternative, climate-independent water source, and promote the sustainable use of water. The facility was originally designed to provide two distinct modes of operation, summer and winter, which allows lower volumes of recycled water to be produced during winter, as well as varying the nutrient removal levels when irrigating.

Since it’s practical completion in November 2012, this intricate underground water recycling process has been implemented in other recycling facilities across the country.

“Since the operation of the Water Recycling Facility began in 2012, the plant has provided pivotal Class-A Water for plumbing usage at the MCG for over 550 major events, while also providing irrigation requirements for 35 hectares of Parklands throughout summer periods,” said Scott McGowan, Building Services Coordinator, Melbourne Cricket Club.

Designing with a focus on durability and longevity

Ten years since completion, the facility has set the benchmark for the design of recycled water plants across Australia, through sharing operational and performance learnings with the broader industry. The plant is regarded by the water industry and Victorian Government as a crucial ‘proof of concept’ plant. 

The project brought numerous industry-leading advances. The use of 3D modelling software to help identify operations and maintenance issues resulted in cost savings of 30 per cent in area, and a 15 per cent reduction in bunker depth, which also helped to retain heritage listed trees. The design also took a robust approach to odour control by venting air collected from covered odour sources through a dual process of chemical scrubbing and carbon polishing.

In addition to technical excellence, the physical layout of the facility optimised underground space and was still able accommodate standard maintenance procedures.