CBD ROAD NO-GO ZONE
THE closure of a central section of Malop St this week has the potential to create traffic chaos for commuters, especially during peak hours in the city’s CBD.
The works to replace a 100year-old sewer, to be undertaken by Barwon Water, will see the Malop St closed between Moorabool and Yarra streets from today until Friday this week.
Traffic management will be in place and pedestrians will still have access.
Barwon Water has advised that some resin or sewer odour may be noticeable in the area but “should disappear quickly”.
Construction crews will be working during the day and sometimes into the night. The majority of the work will take place within the road and road reserves and affected businesses have been notified directly.
The works form part of a Barwon Water rehabilitation project on a 2km section of the ovoid sewer main spanning Malop and Bellerine streets.
A smaller section between Grandview Grange and Stubbs Ave in North Geelong will also be rehabilitated as part of the project.
The sewer was built in 1917 and is one of Geelong’s principal sewers, servicing more than 18,000 properties.
“After a century of use, the sewer is in need of rehabilitation to ensure its structural integrity,” a statement on Barwon Water’s website read.
Works on the major project began in May and are scheduled for completion later this year.
Barwon Water recently launched its Strategy 2030 plan, which investigates how the organisation will deal with challenges brought on by economic, social and environmental change in the region.
Barwon Water’s aims in the strategy are: zero waste; zero emissions; all water from the wastewater treatment plants recycled; and a fast-tracking switch to renewable energy.
By the end of 2018, Barwon Water has vowed to implement the Wurdee Boluc wind, solar and battery renewable energy project; the Leather St maintenance centre and Ryrie St headquarters solar renewable energy; on-site behind the meter (99kW) initiatives at Anglesea, Bannockburn, Colac, Apollo Bay and Birregurra; and a business case for a Colac waste-to-energy (biogas) plant.