THE completion of a recycled water pipeline servicing bayside suburbs has been delayed by more than a year.
Construction is ongoing on South East Water’s Dingley Recycled Water Scheme; stage one includes construction on a 25-kilometre pipeline with a 12-kilometre transfer main from Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant to Bangholme, and a 13-kilometre pipeline connecting the network to surrounding suburbs. Once complete the pipeline is expected to deliver up to 1.8 billion litres of recycled water each year to more than 40 parks, golf courses, sports ovals, nurseries, and gardens.
A project update issued by South East Water last week read that the Dingley Recycled Water Scheme “is expected to start delivering recycled water in 2027.” When announcing money for the project in 2022, the state government estimated that recycled water would be delivered through the pipeline by 2025. A 2025 start date was reaffirmed by the state government when the project broke ground in late 2023 (“Recycled water project underway”, The News 13/12/2023).
South East Water general manager liveable water solutions, Charlie Littlefair, said the revised 2027 delivery date “reflects the ongoing work required to attain necessary approvals and permits.”
“At South East Water we stage our major projects across several years to deliver new and essential infrastructure where and when our customers need it,” Littlefair said. “We look forward to bringing this new climate-resilient water source to Melbourne’s south-east, supporting greener spaces for communities.
“We’re providing fit-for-purpose Class A recycled water, helping conserve drinking water and create climate-resilient green spaces. The scheme supports councils and businesses to reduce costs while improving community amenity.”
The state government is spending $24 million on the project. Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson visited the project site last week, and said “increasing the use of fit-for-purposes recycled water to help conserve and take pressure off our drinking water supplies is an important sustainability initiative for our growing population for the next 50 years”.
“This project ensures Melburnians and visitors can continue to enjoy their favourite green spaces all year round, even in drier conditions,” he said.
Stage one works are being undertaken by ABK Joint Venture; a partnership between Abergeldie, BMD and KBR.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 17 December 2025