Melbourne's Western Treatment Plant, a vast sewage farm south of Werribee, has become an internationally significant wetland and a haven for more than 300 bird species, rivalling Kakadu in birdlife abundance. The 105-square-kilometre site features nearly 200 man-made lagoons and natural wetlands, providing a drought-proof refuge for half of Victoria's waterfowl. It was listed under the Ramsar convention in 1983.
Among the notable species is the brolga, a large grey crane that is endangered in Victoria but commonly seen at the treatment plant. Birdwatcher Michael Livingston, known as 'Bird Michael from the internet', first visited a decade ago after hearing about the brolgas. 'It was like a mythical place – Melbourne's hottest birdwatching spot,' he said. He was shocked to see brolgas in Victoria and was overwhelmed by the number of birds of prey.
The site has been critical to Melbourne's waste management since opening as the Werribee Sewage Farm in 1892. Sewage was initially used to irrigate crops and paddocks, with livestock grazing to keep grass low. The heritage-listed remnants of the township of Cocoroc, which housed workers until the 1970s, remain on site, including a swimming pool and a large water tank dating from 1854.
Today, more than 200 billion litres of sewage flow through the plant each year, processed through a series of lagoons that encourage or discourage bacterial growth. Access to the site requires a gate key, which birdwatchers can borrow online. The treatment plant is an active industrial site but has become a premier destination for bird enthusiasts.
