The LMWQCC has been serving the Canberra community for decades, but with our growing population, certain aspects of the treatment process are reaching their capacity. We have a responsibility to safeguard our environment and continue delivering high-quality wastewater services. To achieve this, we must upgrade or replace key elements of the treatment process.

Stage one of the project focuses on expanding the capacity of the secondary treatment process by introducing a new membrane bioreactor system. In stage two, the existing bioreactors will be upgraded with membrane bioreactor technology. By phasing the project, we can implement the infrastructure gradually, managing costs more effectively while ensuring it scales with the community’s growth.

The contract for the design and construction of stage one has been awarded to a joint venture between Seymour Whyte Constructions and Vinci Construction Grands Projets Australia, who bring extensive experience in the design and construction of membrane bioreactor technology.

Construction on the secondary treatment upgrade project will occur between 2025 – 2028.

A development application (DA) was submitted to the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) and approved in 2024, following selection of the bioreactor technology and development of design (DA#202341913). 

An amendment to the original DA was submitted to reflect additional specific design developments in April 2025 (DA#202341913) Specifically, we developed the design to reduce and optimise the footprint (area) for the new facilities, as well as allow for the beneficial reuse of materials on site where possible. These changes aim to reduce the impact of the project and provide the best value to the community. 

During the construction of the new facilities, residents and local community members may notice change in the area particularly those who live along Stockdill Drive, Shepards Lookout walking track users, and potentially residents in nearby suburb of Ginninderry.

Throughout the construction period, Stockdill Drive will experience increased traffic from light vehicles and trucks delivering plant and equipment. The road will be regularly used by construction teams and support vehicles accessing the site.

Shepards Lookout walking trail users may see the construction works as the trail passes LMWQCC however the plant is not visible from the Lookout.

Some noise may be experienced throughout the construction period as a result of ongoing works.

We will be engaging with the community as we progress this important project.

We’ve taken meaningful steps to minimise the impact of the development by optimising and consolidating new infrastructure. As part of the Development Application (DA) amendment process, we obtained an Environmental Significance Opinion (ESO), which concluded that the proposed works are unlikely to result in significant environmental impact. The ESO also recognises that the site is already well established with ongoing operations. The project will incorporate a range of mitigation measures, including:

• Minimising tree removal with work supervised by a qualified arborist.
• Rehabilitating all disturbed areas and replacing trees around the site to enhance overall ecological values. 
• Trees near the construction works will be protected with fencing around the boundary of the protection zone.
• Tree replacement will be in accordance with the requirements of the conservator (or approval authority).
• Sediment and erosion control measures.
• Wildlife exclusion measures.

We regularly assess both plant performance and future population projections to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth. Once complete, the secondary treatment upgrades will increase capacity to support a population of around 660,000 people. Looking ahead, we continue to evaluate network configurations to meet the needs of our expanding community.

At Icon Water, we invest in essential infrastructure on behalf of our customers. The water and wastewater bills you pay help fund critical upgrades, ensuring we can continue to deliver reliable services now and into the future. To learn more about how we’re planning for the future and what’s included in the current pricing period (2023–2028), view our factsheet.

We value your interest in our project and welcome your feedback. If you’d like to share your thoughts or join our mailing list for updates.

For general enquiries or to make a complaint, feel free to contact us via talktous@iconwater.com.au or call (02) 6248 3111.