Work begins on treatment plant upgrade

The largest and most ambitious water infrastructure project the Central Coast has seen this decade has begun with the Mardi Water Treatment Plant upgrade hitting a major milestone.

The plant typically provides about half of all drinking water to the region and it is a key priority to future-proof the asset to ensure it can continue to deliver safe and secure water.

Central Coast Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said shovels were in the ground and the project was officially underway.

“Mardi Water Treatment Plant hasn’t received an extensive upgrade since 1992 and as a result is challenged in keeping up with community demand when there is increased levels of organic material, sediment and algae in Mardi Dam,” he said.

“This upgrade will deliver a number of benefits towards the security and better management of our precious drinking water throughout the water supply network.

“This includes being able to retain drought contingency supplies and the ability to capture and treat more storm flows.

“Once this major upgrade is complete, Mardi Water Treatment Plant will have the capacity to treat up to the equivalent of 64 Olympic-sized swimming pools per day (160ML), providing quality drinking water to more than 210,000 businesses and homes across the Central Coast and the lower Hunter regions, including during algal bloom events in Mardi Dam.”

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the upgrade highlighted the steps Council was taking towards future-proofing the region’s water supply.

“Community members are encouraged to be mindful of their water usage at home to help conserve this precious resource,” he said.

Council is delivering the $82.5M project with $6.85M in funding through the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Fund.

Abergeldie Contractors was awarded the tender to carry out detailed design and construction works in June 2023.

For more information on the project, search ‘Mardi Water Treatment Plant upgrade’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au