Response - Shepparton sewer rising main leak
November 2023
UPDATE - 3pm Friday 24 November
We’ve now successfully completed repair works on the rising sewer main.
The bypass system has been decommissioned and the new slip lined main is now active and connected into the broader sewer network. We’ll be on site this afternoon and over the next couple of days to finalise the area clean up.
Works were also completed in line with our schedule, meaning VLine and VicTrack could run trains back on the line when they needed to finalise their planned works and allow passenger services on the line to resume.
Completing such a complex repair on a critical service wouldn’t have been possible in such a short timeframe without the support of a number of consultants and contractors. This includes Girdwoods, Foott Waste, EFS, GAME Contracting, V/Line, VicTrack, Mawsons Concrete, Rankin Plumbing, Connex, VicRoads, MJ Tucker, UES, Jacobs and UWS.
Thanks for your patience and understanding while we carried out these emergency repairs.
This is the final community update for this response.
The pipeline repair works all completed, ready for track testing on Friday afternoon.
UPDATE - 10am Friday 24 November
Last night we successfully connected a temporary bypass system over the railway line using a 250mm pipe to continue services as normal.
While the bypass was in place, we were able to send CCTV cameras in to inspect the leak in the section of sewer rising main under the railway, finding a small hole at the top of the pipe. Given the poor condition of the ageing pipe – which was constructed in 1971 – we decided to install a new section of 280mm HDPE pipe, slip lined inside the old pipe. The majority of the pipe construction and installation works were completed late last night, before we retuned to site this morning.
We expect to continue works to fully connect in the new section of pipeline today, before we disconnect the temporary bypass and clean up at the site. Normal wastewater services are still running and there is no impact to customers’ services.
We’re anticipating finishing works around midday today, meaning there will be no impact to V/Line test services that are expected to run later this afternoon ahead of full train services resuming later tonight.
The timely repair wouldn’t have been possible without the support of businesses and contractors who mobilised immediately to support our incident response.
Our emergency repair works were being completed while trains were not running along the line due to planned VicTrack works.
Nearby residents will continue to see machinery and works in the railway lands today. A section of road along Baker St is closed while heavy machinery is working on site – a detour is in place via Swallow and Weddell streets.
We’ll continue to provide updates – the next update is expected to be issued by 5pm, Friday 24 November.
UPDATE - 5pm Thursday 23 November
Construction is almost finished on the bypass pipeline across the railway – once that’s in place, contractors will begin CCTV works on the leaking section of rising main underneath the railway tracks. We expect this to be completed later this evening, and we have additional contractors on standby to assess the best repair options.
Our Incident Management Team will meet first thing tomorrow to progress repair options. We’ll post further updates as more information becomes available.
UPDATE - 11am Thursday 23 November
Investigations following a sewer spill in rail lands in Shepparton has identified a leak in a major sewer rising main running underneath the rail lines near Baker/Purcell/Sobraon streets in Shepparton.
We’ve got contractors on site to install a bypass pipeline across the railway line, so we can run CCTV inspections along the impacted section of sewer main. This will give us a better understanding of the condition of the pipe – which is about 50 years old - and how we can repair it.
These works will not impact rail services in Shepparton, as buses are currently operating in place of trains while VicTrack planned works are being carried out in the area.
Our team is monitoring and diverting flows into nearby alternate catchments in our network.
We don’t anticipate this affecting wastewater services for customers in the immediate vicinity, but if you do notice something unusual (for example, your toilets or drains gurgling) please contact our 24-hour Customer Service Centre in Shepparton on 1800 454 500.
There may be some odour on site concentrated around manholes or sewer pipelines where we are working. This should disperse naturally, but if there is a strong odour that is affecting you, please contact us.
We’ll continue to provide updates – the next update is expected to be issued around 5pm, Thursday 23 November.
UPDATE - 10am Wednesday 22 November
Sewer spill, Shepparton
There has been a sewer spill in Baker St - in the railway reserve near the intersection of Baker/Purcell/Sobraon Sts. The spill has been isolated and there is no risk to the public. Staff are onsite working to complete repairs and clean up the impacted area. We have notified the EPA.
Please call us on 1800 454 500 if you need more information.