Council & Business
8 May, 2026
Talbot sewerage years away
Talbot's development plans and sewerage system will both take years to complete with the latter expected to cost around $40 million, according to last week's public meeting.
Most of Talbot’s legacy septic tanks are failing and a sewerage system, to address the problem and enable the town’s growth, is both years away and will cost around $40 million dollars, according to a public meeting last week.
Central Goldfields Shire Council and Central Highlands Water (CHW) updated the Talbot community last Thursday, April 30, with their progress on the Talbot Futures Project.
The town has previously been identified as being well-positioned for growth, but is constrained by the lack of wastewater infrastructure, which the project hopes to address.
This process involved a Structure Plan and heritage review, led by council, tied in with plans for a reticulated sewerage scheme, overseen by CHW.
What CHW found was a sewerage system for Talbot would cost around $35 to $40 million and would require funding from both state and federal governments.
CHW presented their findings which identified a gravity reticulation sewer as preferred, with a single sewer pump station in Talbot, and a new local wastewater treatment plant constructed outside of town.
The up-to-date sewerage costings focus on the east side of Ballarat-Maryborough Road with a connection to the local footy club.
Council’s manager of statutory services Peter Field said this was probably the “most economically feasible” way to sewer the majority of the town.
While the system can be expanded, council CEO Peter Harriott said they were focusing on the central areas first.
“Not to say it would never happen but it’s not our priority,” he said.
In parallel council’s work has been guided by the Structure Plan which identifies where growth could occur once sewerage is in place.
Part of this work was stage one of a heritage review which was completed in early 2024.
Mr Field said this review was not about “freezing Talbot in time” but instead “supporting good growth”.
Currently, Talbot is covered by a town-wide heritage overlay which doesn’t distinguish between areas of heritage significance and those that have changed over time.
“Stage one confirms the historic core of Talbot and helps identify where protection should be strongest, where sensitive change can be supported, and where development should be minimised or avoided. Clear, targeted controls protect Talbot’s story better than one‑size‑fits‑all rules,” Mr Field said.
“Updated, targeted controls also give more certainty to residents, councillors and investors. Overly broad or unclear controls can discourage home improvements, reuse of existing buildings and well‑designed new housing.”
Mr Field said sewerage and updated heritage controls will work together to both protect Talbot’s character and promote future development.
“Our commitment to Talbot hasn’t changed — what we’re doing now is making sure the work is sequenced properly, with realistic expectations, so that when we move toward implementation, it succeeds and supports Talbot’s future,” he said.
Talbot’s present, however, is one where residents rely on ageing septic tanks which council found were in poor condition.
After completing 33 inspections in 2024, around a quarter of the dwellings in the township, council found 97 percent were old systems with 93 percent either failed or failing.
Community members raised public health concerns with specific mention of sewerage sometimes being in the street due to this widespread failure.
This water, as Mr Field explained, ends up in Tullaroop Creek, then Laanecoorie Reservoir, which Dunolly and Bealiba residents drink.
“I think everyone understands ... we’ve got an issue here. It’s not a surprise to anyone,” Mr Field said.
Mr Harriott said these issues “only elevate this project” as a priority.
However, a sewerage system as a fix is likely years away.
According to CHW, it’s approximately a six year process from the time funding is approved until implementation takes place.
Heritage planning is also a lengthy process, according to Mr Field, who said it often takes years or even close to a decade.
“Rushing this work risks failure, and that would not serve Talbot well,” Mr Field said.
The funding also proves its own challenge because the project can’t be broken up into stages.
While council are advocating for funding, member for Ripon Martha Haylett said she was doing the same at both the state and federal level.
“I wish I was here with a cheque of tens of millions of dollars to say we’re getting sewerage for Talbot but that is sadly not the case,” she said.
In the meantime, Mr Field said council faced compliance challenges due to the failing septic systems.
“Talbot residents have done the right thing for decades but you just haven’t had the luxury of infrastructure to support that,” he said.
“Staff need to have conversations with residents about what can you do to maintain your septic to the best of your ability until eventually the day comes the town is sewered, whenever that is in years to come.”
The Talbot Futures Project began in September 2022 with the Structure Plan being completed the next year.
Mr Field said there has been a gap in “visible progress” since early 2024 but said work was still underway in the background.
“I appreciate people’s patience, and I understand why confidence in that project may have been a little tested,” he said.
“Tonight is the start of renewed and more transparent engagement by council and we’re here to listen, to explain constraints honestly, and to work with you on next steps.”