General News
14 March, 2024
Wastewater plan to aid growth
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has approved its first Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) since 2006. The new plan, which was approved at the most recent council meeting, aims to update the risks of wastewater management, and align the...
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has approved its first Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) since 2006.
The new plan, which was approved at the most recent council meeting, aims to update the risks of wastewater management, and align the plan with updated legislation and framework.
The key priorities of the action plan includes developing and populating an on-site wastewater management system database to improve management of new and existing systems, implementation of a targeted inspection program and education of current and future residents on their on-site wastewater management systems.
Central Goldfields Shire councillor Wayne Sproull said the DWMP is a step in the right direction for wastewater management.
“This is a very well thought out document that provides council with clear objectives towards domestic wastewater management, the plan highlights the need for, but also the lack of data around current domestic wastewater systems,” he said.
“As the shire grows, the need in refinements for wastewater treatment change, and Talbot is a prime example of how important wastewater is.
“For individual households, it is also something we need to be very mindful of to ensure we are getting the most efficient systems, with minimal harm to the environment and our waterways.”
Many of the townships in the Central Goldfields are unsewered, except for the business centre of Maryborough and parts of Carisbrook and Dunolly.
One of the towns unsewered is Talbot, with the report stating the need for sewerage in the town was first established in 2005, when diluted sewage within gutters and drains could be found across Talbot.
Central Goldfields Shire councillor Chris Meddows-Taylor said he is excited for how the DWMP will support sewerage planning for Talbot as part of the Talbot Futures project.
“It does identify something very dear to my heart, the growth opportunities particularly in Talbot where we do need, and is a council priority, to sewer Talbot,” he said.
“In our traditional goldfields legacy areas, we have quite small blocks, so that creates problems in terms of our allowing adequate discharge to meet contemporary standards, and the plan seeks to address those, manage those and monitor those.
“This is an important issue, effective wastewater provides a real opportunity for growth and should not be wasted.”