Werribee Sewage Farm
Encyclopedia
Werribee Sewage Farm or, more formally, the Western Treatment Plant of Melbourne Water
, is an 110 km² sewage treatment
farm adjacent to the town of Werribee, 30 km west of the city of Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia, on the coast of Port Phillip Bay. It forms part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site
as a wetland of international importance.
85 km² of pasture
for grazing
15,000 cattle
and 40,000 sheep. It is also supplied to the Werribee market garden
area to grow vegetable
s and to irrigate sports grounds, park
s and garden
s. The remaining effluent is discharged to the bay under an accredited EPA Victoria
licence.
The Werribee Sewage Farm is one of Australia’s best-known sites for recreational birding
, with about 270 species of bird
s recorded there. On the south-western boundary lies the 1550 ha Murtcaim Wildlife Area, containing one of the last unmodified areas of saltmarsh
on Port Phillip. The sewage treatment lagoons, Lake Borrie
, creeks, saltmarsh and coast host large numbers of sedentary and migratory
waterbirds and wader
s. It adjoins the Spit Nature Conservation Reserve
and is one of the few wintering sites for the critically endangered
Orange-bellied Parrot
. Access to Werribee Sewage Farm for birdwatching is by permit only; permits can be obtained from Melbourne Water. The site is part of the Werribee and Avalon Important Bird Area
, identified as such by BirdLife International
because of its importance for waterbirds as well as for Orange-bellied Parrots.
Melbourne Water
Melbourne Water is a government owned statutory authority that controls much of the water system in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia including the reservoirs, and thesewerage and drainage system that services the city.- Overview :...
, is an 110 km² sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
farm adjacent to the town of Werribee, 30 km west of the city of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia, on the coast of Port Phillip Bay. It forms part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site
Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site
The Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site is one of the Australian sites listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. It was designated on 15 December 1982, and is listed as Ramsar Site No.266...
as a wetland of international importance.
Sewage treatment
The plant was established in the 1890s and began treating sewage from Melbourne in 1897. It treats 55% of Melbourne’s sewage – about 485 ML/day. Treated effluent is used on the farm to irrigateIrrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
85 km² of pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
for grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
15,000 cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and 40,000 sheep. It is also supplied to the Werribee market garden
Market garden
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
area to grow vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s and to irrigate sports grounds, park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s and garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s. The remaining effluent is discharged to the bay under an accredited EPA Victoria
Environment Protection Authority (Victoria)
EPA Victoria is a statutory authority that reports to the Victorian Parliament through the . Its purpose is to protect, care for and improve the environment for the benefit of the Victorian community.-Overview:...
licence.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, with about 270 species of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s recorded there. On the south-western boundary lies the 1550 ha Murtcaim Wildlife Area, containing one of the last unmodified areas of saltmarsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
on Port Phillip. The sewage treatment lagoons, Lake Borrie
Lake Borrie Wetlands
Lake Borrie Wetlands is located in Victoria, Australia within the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee. This plant is administered by Melbourne Water. It forms part of the Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site as a wetland of international importance...
, creeks, saltmarsh and coast host large numbers of sedentary and migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
waterbirds and wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s. It adjoins the Spit Nature Conservation Reserve
Spit Nature Conservation Reserve
The Spit Nature Conservation Reserve is a 300 ha nature reserve on the north-western shore of Port Phillip, a large bay in Victoria, Australia. It consists of public land set aside to conserve and protect species, communities and habitats of indigenous plants and animals...
and is one of the few wintering sites for the critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
Orange-bellied Parrot
Orange-bellied Parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
. Access to Werribee Sewage Farm for birdwatching is by permit only; permits can be obtained from Melbourne Water. The site is part of the Werribee and Avalon Important Bird Area
Werribee and Avalon Important Bird Area
The Werribee and Avalon Important Bird Area comprises some 37 km2 of coastal land along the north-western shore of Port Phillip in the state of Victoria, south-eastern Australia...
, identified as such by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because of its importance for waterbirds as well as for Orange-bellied Parrots.