Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct
We’ve been working to improve the safety of our heritage-listed Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct and open public access to the Barwon River and 66 hectares of surrounding land. The aqueduct carried the Geelong outfall sewer across the Barwon River from 1915 to 1992, when it was decommissioned and replaced by a pipeline built under the river. Safety risks posed by falling concrete from the deteriorating structure have meant the area around the aqueduct has been closed to the public since 1995.
Once the works are completed and the site is made safe, we aim to progressively open up public access to the area.
The initiative will also support separate work that is underway to create a new cultural and community precinct that will encourage public use of the wider area.
In November 2020, Heritage Victoria granted Barwon Water a permit to remove 4 of the 14 spans of the aqueduct. The permit came with conditions to protect and conserve the remaining structure.
Since then we’ve been working with designers and engineers to determine a safe and successful method to deliver on this permit. Extensive investigations have found that the Aqueduct cannot be safely maintained, and its eventual failure is unavoidable, even if structural propping was installed.
Community and worker safety is our top priority and the safest remaining option is to apply for a new permit to dismantle the majority of the structure. We will be lodging a new permit, seeking to safely dismantle aqueduct structure and significantly recognise its heritage values.
Learn more at our dedicated microsite
For more information, please visit the dedicated microsite.
The site includes a comprehensive document library, frequently asked questions, news archive and more.
Your say: Aqueduct structure proposal
Porronggitj Karrong project
We are also progressing the Porronggitj Karrong project working in partnership with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to rehabilitate the 66 hectares of public open space surrounding the aqueduct.
The project aims to provide a place where Aboriginal, heritage and community values can be brought together using Traditional Owner practices.
The Wadawurrung-Barwon Water partnership team is currently undertaking research, due diligence studies and on the ground works to listen and learn from Country at Porronggitj Karrong. These initiatives have been identified by our Traditional Owners Wadawurrung as key priorities to assist us in developing a full understanding of site’s values.
