Eram Park, Box Hill, chosen for new sewage treatment plant

A PRIME Box Hill park has been chosen for a multi-million dollar sewage treatment plant servicing thousands of homes in a neighbouring council area, creating “the mother of all excrement fights”. But it’s not all bad news.

An artist’s impression of the sewage treatment plant at Box Hill’s Eram Park that will treat waste and sewage water from toilets, baths, showers, and sinks across Doncaster and service 5500 homes. Picture: Supplied

A MULTI-MILLION dollar sewage treatment plant servicing thousands of Manningham residents will be built in the heart of Whitehorse Council parklands.

But after concerns were raised, the plant may be put underground.

Yarra Valley Water will announce a site for proposed $25 million treatment facility next month

Eram Park and Frank Sedgman Reserve in Box Hill North make Yarra Valley Water sewage treatment plant shortlist

Ruffey Lake Park among possible sites for massive Doncaster sewage plant

Box Hill’s Eram Park will be carved up to make way for the $25 million plant that will treat waste and sewage water from toilets, baths, showers, and sinks across Doncaster.

The recycled water will then be used by 5500 new homes in the Doncaster Hill precinct around Westfield and the Tullamore Estate development at the old Eastern Golf Club.

Whitehorse councillor Blair Barker said he was “filthy” with the decision.

“It’s triggering the mother of all excrement fights,” Cr Barker said.

“They’re happy to save space and vegetation in the Tullamore Estate, now owned by Metricon, but happy to trash open space in Whitehorse.”

Cr Barker suggested the plant be built underground to save precious parkland.

The Eram Park site chosen for the new sewage treatment plant.

An independent panel was established in August 2017 to consider all possible locations, including Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster Park and Ride, Frank Sedgman Reserve and Tram Road Reserve.

About 55,000 people were contacted, 10 community sessions were held and 1500 people had their say.

Yarra Valley Water managing director Pat McCafferty said the underground option would now be explored.

“While the original plan envisaged an above-ground option, primarily due to cost, after hearing from the community the panel has suggested that undergrounding should be an option for consideration,” Mr McCafferty said.

He said the panel had also suggested expanding recycled water supply “to benefit more people in surrounding areas” and more work would be done to look at that option.

Yarra Valley Water would consider using the recycled water on parks and sports fields across Whitehorse and Manningham, Mr McCafferty said.

Manningham Council Mayor Andrew Conlon told Leader the State Government, the North East Link Authority, Whitehorse Council and residents would now work with Yarra Valley Water on the site’s detailed design.

@Britt_Shanahan