Latest updates are now being provided via this page. If you’re noticing increased odour near your property, please call 1300 656 007, press 2 for ‘service fault’ (24/7).

Latest update - 22 November 2025

Due to a power outage for the Barwon Heads and Connewarre area on Saturday 22 November around 11 am, the Biosolids Thermal Drying Facility at the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant experienced a temporary shutdown, which resulted in a release of odour. We’ve followed up with the facility operator to confirm that the equipment has been reset and to ensure the facility is operating as it should. The Barwon Water team has been to site to undertake odour testing. While it is currently minimal, we encourage residents to call us with any queries or to provide feedback.

How to report odour issues to Barwon Water?

We continue to encourage residents to provide feedback, as your input is invaluable in helping us monitor and address local concerns promptly. If you’re noticing increased odour near your property, please call 1300 656 007, press 2 for ‘service fault’ (24/7). Calling us directly will enable our operational team to quickly investigate any further causes to the issue and devise a response in coordination with our regulators.

Is this linked to the recent odour issues from the nearby biosolids stockpile?

This temporary increased odour on Saturday morning was caused by the power outage and is unrelated to the recent odour caused by the nearby biosolids stockpile area. Barwon Water is continuing regular treatments of the biosolids stockpile to help minimise any localised odour. We’ll keep the community updated as we undertake further action to improve the condition of the stockpile.

While this odour poses no physical risk to human or animal health, we recognise it causes impact to our neighbours and people working on the site. We apologise for this and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these odour issues.

****

Latest update - 31 October 2025

We’re continuing to conduct odour surveys and apply treatments to control odours and monitor the odour issue. We’re trialling a new method, using lime treatment , to further contain localised odour. There is no risk to human or animal health or personal safety due to this odour event.

If you’re noticing increased odour near your property, please call 1300 656 007, press 2 for ‘service fault’ (24/7). Calling us directly will enable our operational team to quickly investigate the source of any abnormal odour. When calling this number, it would be helpful to have the following information on hand if possible:

• specific time(s) when increased odour was observed
• any other observations that you feel would assist us (for example, wind direction, odour ‘strength’, etc)

Information provided to us by our neighbours is extremely helpful. It assists our operational staff to pinpoint the odour source and respond quickly.

We would like to sincerely thank our neighbours and the local community for their ongoing patience and support throughout these unexpected events.

****

Latest update - 23 October 2025

We’re continuing to monitor local reports of an odour event at our Thermal Drying Facility (TDF) at Black Rock. We’ve alerted the independent operator at the facility.

In response to these reports, we’re conducting regular odour monitoring at the site and have included additional monitoring points throughout the facility. This monitoring is currently underway and will continue to take place. There is no risk to human or animal health or safety due to this odour event.

We’re undertaking regular treatments of the stockpile to help minimise any localised odour.

We’re receiving regular updates from our independent site operator. We’ll keep neighbours and the surrounding community updated with the latest information as we undertake further investigations.

If you’re noticing increased odour near your property, please call 1300 656 007, press 2 for ‘service fault’ (24/7). Calling us directly will enable our operational team to quickly investigate the source of any abnormal odour. When calling this number, it would be helpful to have the following information on hand if possible:

• specific time(s) when increased odour was observed
• any other observations that you feel would assist us (for example, wind direction, odour ‘strength’, etc)
• information provided to us by our neighbours is extremely helpful as it greatly assists our operational staff to pinpoint the source and respond quickly.

We appreciate the ongoing understanding and patience from our neighbours and surrounding community during unexpected events.

*****

Latest update - 22 October 2025 (Revised 23 October 2025)

We have received a report of increased odour at our Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant over the past weekend and earlier this week. We are investigating with the operator of the Thermal Drying Facility (TDF), where it has been confirmed that there has been a fault at the TDF leading to a temporary shut down and increased odour.

The fault has since been resolved, and the facility is now operating normally. Investigations into the cause of the fault are ongoing.

Daily monitoring continues, with the next scheduled treatment of the stockpile planned for this week.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused for our neighbours, and we appreciate your understanding as we work with the operator of the TDF to resolve this. For questions or to notify increase in odour, please call 1300 656 007.

*****

Latest update - 1 September 2025

We’re undertaking essential maintenance works at the Biosolids Thermal Drying facility at the Black Rock Water Reclamation plant (WRP) throughout the month of October and November.

This will require the temporary storage of biosolids in a storage lagoon for the duration of the works. We’ll be required to transport biosolids from the WRP to our storage lagoon across Black Rock Road, Connewarre.  

Please refer to the map below for the location of these works.

As part of this work, please note:

• There will be several daily truck movements, between 8 am and 4 pm, including on weekends, across Black Rock Road, Connewarre. transporting biosolids from the WRP to the temporary storage lagoon.

• Please be mindful of trucks entering and exiting this area.

• There may be an increase in odour, as we are working with biosolids. This is not harmful to people or pets, and we will work to minimise any impacts to nearby residents.

• There will be no interruption to your water and sewerage services as part of these works.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we repair this critical piece of infrastructure.

Stay up to date

Should you have any questions about this project, please telephone us on 1300 656 007 or email projects@barwonwater.gov.au.