Environment
CityLink and the environment
CityLink has an environmental management plan to address all aspects of air and water quality and noise. Keeping the local communities informed of environmental initiatives and issues that may concern them is a key part of the plan.
We regularly partner with communities and greening groups, including Greening Australia, to find ways to protect and enhance the environment in which we operate.
CityLink has an environmental management plan to address all aspects of air and water quality and noise. Keeping the local communities informed of environmental initiatives and issues that may concern them is a key part of the plan.
We regularly partner with communities and greening groups, including Greening Australia, to find ways to protect and enhance the environment in which we operate.
Breathe easy in our tunnels
You can breathe easy in our tunnels. We have exhaust fans continually dispersing the air from the tunnels to prevent build-up of fumes. On average, the air from our tunnels contains 90 per cent less than the daily pollutants allowed by EPA Victoria.
We also work closely with industry groups to encourage professional transport operators to maintain their fleets to high standards.
CityLink using water wisely
Our water treatment and recycling plant, which has been operating since November 2002, has reduced the fresh water used to stabilise the ground around the tunnels by up to 95 per cent - saving 20 million litres of fresh water a month.
Water conservation remains a very important issue for us all. And we’re committed to minimising the impact of our operations on natural resources. To this end, we developed our own water treatment and recycling plant.
Why the need for a water treatment and recycling plant?
We maintain the stability of the ground around the Burnley and Domain tunnels by managing the levels of ground water in the surrounding water table. To prevent the build-up of pressure on certain parts of the tunnel structure, ground water needs to be drained away from the tunnel lining.
However, if this water is not replaced it will result in a lowering of the water table and could affect the stability of the ground around the tunnels and at the surface. If the water table is not recharged with water, the surface could settle and impact on nearby structures.
How does the water treatment and recycling plant save water?
Before the recycling plant was built, fresh water had to be used to replenish the water table. Now, the recycling plant treats ground water drained from the tunnels in a process that saves up to 95 per cent (750,000 litres) of drinking water a day.
This is how it works:
– Tunnel drainage system collects ground water and pumps it into settling tanks
– Water in settling tanks flows to recycling plant for treatment
– Recycled water is piped to bores at five points across the city from Southbank to Richmond
– These bores feed the water into various underground rivers called aquifers
– Aquifers distribute recycled water into the water table maintaining stability of surrounding land
CityLink is committed to ensuring that Melbourne’s ground water is protected. The ground water quality is tested weekly to ensure compliance with the State Environment Protection Policy.