Yarra Valley Water, which spent A$75.2 million on contract expenses in FY2024-25, has appointed Service Stream and Ventia as its maintenance service delivery partners for nine years from October 2026. The partners will carry out responsive and scheduled civil maintenance and mechanical and electrical maintenance of sewer, water and treatment plant assets.
A network under pressure
The partnership starts as reliability sits above its regulated limit. In 2025-26, 7,527 customers had three or more unplanned interruptions, against a limit of fewer than 7,000. Renewal lengths fell to 21.5 km of water mains and 37 km of sewers in 2024-25, from 31.8 km and 45.5 km a year earlier.
What Yarra Valley Water spends
Contract expenses rose from A$71.8 million in FY2023-24. Capital expenditure reached A$382.8 million, against a A$1,962 million capital works allowance for 2023-28. Cash interest cover fell to 1.83 times.
Other long-term holders
New Plumbing Solutions holds a meter replacement and maintenance contract worth over A$40 million over five years, supporting a rollout aimed at about 900,000 digital meters by mid-2032. John Holland holds the early design of the new Aurora recycled water plant, a contract of about A$5 million, and BMD Constructions is the design and construct partner for the Healesville Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade.
Through the whole next period
The nine-year term runs through the whole 2028-33 price period. Yarra Valley Water's submission for that period is due to the Essential Services Commission in September 2027, with a draft plan in June 2027.
The brief sets out how Yarra Valley Water buys, which tenders its activity plan lists, which projects are open or emerging, and where suppliers should focus first. The full report, Yarra Valley Water: Utility Account Brief, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the Yarra Valley Water Utility Snapshot.