Werribee Open Range Zoo recycled water pipeline

Project overview

The new Werribee Open Range Zoo recycled water pipeline provides the zoo with class A recycled water that will be used for the new elephant and existing hippopotamus habitats and for irrigation all around the zoo’s grounds.

The project supports the long-term resilience of Victoria’s waterways by reducing the water we take from the Werribee river and provides an alternative use for wastewater.

We installed a 2.5km pipeline, that runs from the Werribee Recycled Water Treatment Plant, underneath the Werribee River and the Western Trunk Sewer and connects to the zoo's infrastructure.

The pipeline will deliver around 150 million litres of recycled water per year, with the potential to expand up to 400 million litres as the zoo grows.

Construction started in 2022 and was completed in 2024. The new elephant habitat is set to open in March 2025.

A view of part of the new elephant enclosure.

Why the project was needed

The new pipeline provides an alternative use for wastewater and supports the Werribee Open Range Zoo expansion project.

In the future the pipeline will continue to support the expansion of recycled water in the Werribee Catchment.

A cross section of the ground with earth removed showing the large dark-coloured pipes that will carry the recycled water.

Environmental care, community and cultural heritage

We’re committed to caring for the environment, cultural heritage and local communities. During this project we:

• collaborated with key stakeholders throughout our consultation process to understand their needs and aligned these with our work programs and outcomes.
• worked with EPA to ensure environmental compliance.
• ensured respect for First Nations heritage through cultural heritage management planning and consultation since November 2020
• used techniques and machinery to reduce impacts for the local community and environmental, specifically micro tunnel boring underneath the Werribee River and the Western Trunk Sewer.