Melbourne Water: Utility Account Brief

Executive overview

Key findings

A$7,307.7 million: capital expenditure benchmark for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031, set by the Essential Services Commission (Melbourne Water proposed A$7.9 billion)

A$4,100 million: total capital expenditure over 2021–2026, including capitalised desalination payments

A$2,110.6 million: total revenue in FY2025 (operating and other expenses A$834.6 million)

A$4,813.2 million: non-current borrowings at 30 June 2025, up from A$4,402.2 million a year earlier

Buyer relevance

Who the report is for

Treatment process and equipment suppliers

Track the A$337 million Western Treatment Plant expansion, the A$304 million Eastern Treatment Plant augmentation and the sludge dewatering EOI.

Civil, dam and tunnelling contractors

See the Cardinia Dam, Maroondah outlet and Western Trunk Sewer stages and routes in.

Field services and maintenance firms

Follow the Field Services Panel renewal that closed on 27 October 2026 and the panel that ends in September 2027.

Business development teams

Use the opportunity register and priority table to decide where to bid first.

Decision scope

Questions answered

How much will Melbourne Water spend on capital in 2026–2031?

The Essential Services Commission set a capital benchmark of A$7,307.7 million, against A$4,100 million over 2021–2026.

How does Melbourne Water buy major works?

Through two-stage EOI and RFP processes on its Zycus system; the Cardinia Dam Upgrade EOI closed on 3 October 2025.

Who holds the largest current contract?

John Holland is delivering the A$711 million Resource Recovery and Re-Use Complex at the Western Treatment Plant.

What is open now?

The Field Services Panel tender closed on 27 October 2026 and is in evaluation; the sludge dewatering EOI closed on 1 June 2026.

Inside the report

Inside the complete report

1. The Account at a Glance

2. Organisation and Decision-Making

3. Financial Position

4. Priorities and Pressures

5. How Melbourne Water Buys

6. Opportunity Register

7. Commercial Priorities: Where to Focus First

8. Watch List: What to Monitor and What to Do

Source Register

Public preview

What to watch next

Field Services Panel appointments

RFT closed 27 October 2026; the current panel ends September 2027.

Treatment plant capacity tenders

A$337 million and A$304 million in the determination.

Water Security Taskforce report, March 2027

Could start a new desalination or recycled water programme.

FY2026 annual report

Profit, borrowing and capital spending trends.

Landscape report page with the Opportunity Register table of Melbourne Water projects, their procurement status, stage at October 2026 and access routes. — Sample page · page 6 of 10
The Opportunity Register lists each project's status, stage, existing contractors, supplier categories and route in.

Included

What you receive

The complete PDF report: 10 pages, 9 sections, 6 tables and a register of 17 sources.

This edition

October 2026 edition.

Evidence & method

Evidence and method

The brief draws on Melbourne Water annual reports and project pages, the Essential Services Commission's 2026 final decision, public tender listings for Melbourne Water's EOIs, RFTs and panels, and contractor and government releases checked on 29 October 2026.

Sources

17 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 29 October 2026. Principal data periods: FY2025 audited results (year ended 30 June 2025); 2026–2031 regulatory period. Project and procurement status checked against public sources on 29 October 2026. All currency is Australian dollars (A$)..

Lead analyst

Robert C. Brears

Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence

Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.

Decision-focused utility intelligence
Published water-policy author
Evidence-grounded system analysis

Buyer FAQs

Before you purchase

Who can use the report?

Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.

How is the report delivered?

The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.

Can my organization buy wider access?

Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.