Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant processes sewage from the
eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Greater Melbourne. It is located at Bangholme near Carrum (Melway Map 98 Grid E4).

Mike Carter and others have conducted surveys of birds on the Plant since it was constructed in 1975 when it was called the South
Eastern Purification Plant. The Plant has extensive wetlands consisting of effluent storage basins, sewage treatment ponds and sludge drying pans dealing with various stages in the purification process. These can attract large numbers of birds especially in drought conditions when the plant becomes an important refuge for wetland dependent species.

Surveys are sually on the fourth Sunday of the month.  Surveys commence at 9:00 am and often continue until early evening. This survey is carried out by 4WD, numbers are restricted and prior booking with Mike Carter, 03 9787 7136 or pterodroma@bigpond.com is essential.  Survey dates may change at short notice due to operational constraints.

Up to April 2011, 182 species have been recorded on the site.

BirdLife Melbourne thanks the management of the Eastern Treatment Plant for allowing these monthly surveys to take place, acknowledges the contributions of all who participated, and thank Simon Mustoe for permission to his image of the route of the November 2007
survey superimposed on a Google Earth map. To view the route, click here

For a summary of species seen on recent outings click here

To view Mike Carter's reports of recent surveys, click the survey date below.

Survey 22 Jan 2012