Woodman Point Water Resource Recovery Facility Upgrade

What's happening?

In 2019, we completed upgrades to the Woodman Point WRRF. This increased the facility’s ability to treat water by handling up to 180 million litres (L) a day. The upgrades also improved the system that controls odour at the facility.

We are improving the facility’s system for handling sludge and making it able to create more useful materials called biosolids. These biosolids can be used in various industries and farming. To do this, we will replace existing equipment and build new, advanced structures.

Where is this happening?

All work is taking place at the Woodman Point WRRF in Munster, near Cockburn Road.

Why is this work taking place?

At our water resource recovery facilities, we recycle useful resources from used water. These include water, biogas and biosolids.

Biosolids come from solid materials separated from the liquid during water treatment. This solid material, called sludge, is treated and turned into fertiliser. The fertiliser is then used on large farm growing crops like wheat, oats, canola and lupins, as well as in forestry.

Our goal is to recycle 100 per cent of this resource within the Perth metro area. 

Biogas can be used as energy either at the site or in other industries. The upgrades will let the facility make almost half of the energy it needs by capturing and reusing this biogas.

This will also cut down the greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,600 tonnes of CO2 every year because the facility will need less power from the grid.

When is this happening?

In April 2023, we awarded the contract for this project, which involves a joint venture of Clough Projects, Jacobs Engineering and Water Corporation - called Integrate.

Work on this project is expected to be completed by late 2027.

How will this impact the community?

All construction is happening inside the Woodman Point WRRF, so it should have very little impact on the local community.

The large-scale earthworks for the project are complete. Now, the main focus is on installing underground utilities and building concrete structures. 85 per cent of acquisition of goods and services for the project has been completed.

To find out more about major milestones on site, please see our project updates.

Vehicle movements: You may notice a temporary increase in trucks and equipment moving into and out of the facility from Cockburn Road during normal work hours.

Local water and wastewater services: Your water and wastewater services won’t be impacted at all by this work.

Noise and vibration: We don’t expect any noise or vibration impacts to nearby residents or businesses.

Temporary odour: There may be temporary odour impacts at specific times throughout the work. These will be kept to a minimum and we will notify the local community ahead of time.

Visual impacts: Some new infrastructure will be constructed as part of the sludge upgrade which may be visible from some nearby locations. These artist’s impressions have been developed to indicate what you might be able to see from seven different surrounding locations.

View from Pinnacle Road near Mast Way, Coogee

View from Mayor Road near Apium Mews, Lake Coogee

View from Western side of Ingrilli Court, Lake Coogee

View from View Street near East Churchill Avenue, Beeliar

View from Coogee Road north of Hobsons Avenue, Lake Coogee

View from Russell Road, west of Anderson Road, Henderson

How can I stay informed about the project?

This webpage will be kept updated throughout the project. If you have any additional queries, please contact Elecia Piparo, Senior Advisor – Community Engagement. Elecia.Piparo@watercorporation.com.au and (08) 9420 3389.

Learn more about how our water resource recovery facilities and wastewater treatment plants work.

Community Reference Group

The Woodman Point Water Resource Recovery Facility Community Reference Group is a dedicated volunteer group that represents community members living in close proximity to the plant. The group is independently chaired and meets regularly to provide community insight and feedback to inform our operations. If you would like more information, or to contact the group, please email community.engagement@watercorporation.com.au

Hydrogen Commercial Demonstration Plant

What is happening?

We have partnered with Hazer Group Limited to construct and operate a Hydrogen Commercial Demonstration Plant next to our existing Woodman Point Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), inside the plant’s boundary.

The plant will convert methane, a by-product of the wastewater treatment process, to hydrogen and graphite (carbon) using a technology developed out of the University of Western Australia. Hazer aims to produce commercial quantities of hydrogen and carbon, whilst reducing overall emissions, to support the commercialisation of the technology.

Water Corporation supports the Commercial Demonstration Plant as a future endeavour to reduce it's carbon footprint and extract value from waste resources.

Further information about Hazer Group Ltd can be found on their website.

When is this happening?

Construction of the plant commenced in mid-March 2022 and is now complete. The Commercial Demonstration Plant is expected to operate for three years before being re-assessed. Hazer Group Ltd will be working closely with the Woodman Point WRRF management team and the Integrate Alliance to operate the Commercial Demonstration Plant.

How will this impact me?

Now construction of the plant is complete you may notice that the top of the plant is visible from Lake Coogee. During design of the demonstration plant, every effort was made to reduce the visual amenity impact, including sinking the plant and ensuring structures are painted to blend into the environment as much as possible.

Further information?

Hazer Group and Water Corporation will continue to keep the community informed of the development of the plant. For further information or queries please contact us on 13 13 75.