Overview
Healesville wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 10,200 people in Melbourne's Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia. The facility is operational and discharges treated effluent into the local watershed.
Healesville wastewater treatment plant is located in the Yarra Ranges Shire, approximately 50 km east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The plant serves a population of around 10,216 residents in the Healesville area, providing essential wastewater management for this semi-rural community. As an Australian facility, the plant operates under the national regulatory framework administered by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria). For a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, secondary treatment is typically required to meet state discharge standards, ensuring protection of receiving waters. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Yarra River catchment, which flows into Port Phillip Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for the Melbourne region. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Yarra River catchment, which flows through the Yarra Valley and into Port Phillip Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish species and waterbirds, and is an important recreational and ecological corridor. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this sensitive urban-fringe environment.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 50 Argoon Road, Healesville, in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia, approximately 50 km east of Melbourne.
The plant serves approximately 10,216 residents in the Healesville area and surrounding communities.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Yarra River catchment, which flows into Port Phillip Bay. The plant is subject to EPA Victoria discharge permits that set limits to protect water quality.
The plant operates under the Victorian Environment Protection Act, administered by EPA Victoria. Australian wastewater treatment plants serving populations over 10,000 are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards and comply with state-based discharge licenses.
For a plant of this scale in Australia, secondary treatment is standard, often involving biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection. The exact process depends on the receiving water body sensitivity and state regulations.
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