Village Sewerage Schemes
Last modified: August 13, 2008 - 2:47 PM
An option study has been completed identifying the feasibility of sewerage systems to the villages of Murrumbateman, Binalong and Bowning with projected populations of 430, 500 and 250 respectively. Preliminary Environmental Studies have been completed to all these villages.
In March, 1997 the Minister for Energy, Utility and Sustainability announced that an assistance(up to 67%) would be available to over 200 small unsewered towns in NSW. It appears that the subsidy level may be reduced to 50% by the Minister. Yass Valley Council accepted the Minister's offer to carry out investigations due to the public health concerns from septic tank discharges in the villages of Murrumbateman Bowning and Binalong.
Murrumbateman and Binalong have been placed on the Government Priority list for sewerage but for some reason (which Council has yet to establish) Bowning failed to make this list. Yass Valley Council believes all villages have priority and steps will be taken to ensure the opportunity for a sewerage system for each village. Public consultation has been a key factor in reaching understanding and agreement from the community. We approach village residents through their local Sewerage Advisory Committee and Council and the villages agree that sewerage systems need to be installed as soon as practically possible.
An Options Refinement Report was completed by the Department of Public Works and Services in August, 2002 which summarised the cost of the scheme as follows: Murrumbateman - 2.2M Binalong - 2.9M Bowning - 2.10M Recognising that the imposition of sewerage rates at the above level would be too great a financial burden for village ratepayers, Council at its meeting of the 26th June, 2002 advised that "all sewerage schemes operate under the one fund with Village rates remaining until the Yass Town rates reach that level".
An Environmental Study for Murrumbateman has been completed. The Murrumbateman scheme is now listed as a rank 3 project under the Government's priority assistance program. The Concept and final design are now completed. Land acquisition for sites required for the sewage treatment works and pumping station is now in progress. The construction is expected to commence in 2009/10 subject to the Minister's approval for subsidy.
Contact details
Yass Valley Council
02 62261 477 (ph)
02 6226 2598 (fax)
council@yass.nsw.gov.au
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