A smelly job

By Rhonda Dredge

Boaties are worried that a broken pump is leading to raw sewage being secretly leaked into the Yarra at Southbank.

The offending pump is operated by Parks Victoria but despite repeated complaints during April, it allegedly wasn’t fixed until May.

Tour operators were pointing their fingers at each other when Southbank News investigated.

Some say they have seen raw sewage in the river when operators discharge their tanks in frustration.

“You can’t prove anything,” one operator said. “Even if you test the pipe [on a waste tank] and find raw sewage. They say it was an accident.”

The sewage pump is located at South Wharf near DFO and is for the use of commercial operators to pump out their sewage tanks to the mains sewer line. 

When Southbank News checked in late April, the pipe to the Dockside Discharge Unit for Emptying Marine Vessel Waste Tanks was broken.

The plastic on the pipe had unravelled near the base where it was attached to the unit.

“I phoned Parks Victoria,” the tour operator said. “They sent someone but it’s still not fixed.”

Parks Victoria district manager waterways Michael Treanor told Southbank News on May 3 that the pump had since been fixed, and that the unit was designed to shut off if damaged to prevent raw sewage entering the river.

“On becoming aware of the fault to this Dockside Discharge Unit, we immediately arranged for repairs to be carried out,” he said.

“As the responsible waterway manager for the Yarra River, we regularly undertake inspections of boating facilities such as the Dockside Discharge Unit to ensure safety and compliance.”

“If anyone has any information relating to the suspected vandalism of this facility, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Parks Victoria said an alternative facility was located up stream at Federation Wharf.

There are four tour boats with permits to operate at Southbank Wharf. Currently they’re getting free rental.

A fifth does drop-offs from Williamstown but doesn’t have a ticket office. Operators jealously guard this patch of the river and are keen to see Parks Victoria pull their finger out.

“Parks Victoria. The managers of the waterway and infrastructure … what a joke they are,” one worker said •