Gundaroo sewerage skeptics want solid rationale

Despite overwhelming community opposition to the installation of a sewerage plant for Gundaroo, Yass Valley Council is still pushing ahead with plans.

The growing village, 40kms north of Canberra, has hitherto relied on on-site eco sewerage and septic systems, which are maintained by the owners. Residents also rely on tank and bore water only. The issue brings up questions as to the sustainability of development in the area with the Yass River already under considerable stress.

A study, undertaken by NSW Public Works Advisory, indicated that a sewerage system to cater for the village would cost approximately $8 million and could be provided to residents at the similar ongoing cost to those residents connected to the Murrumbateman and Yass sewerage systems.

With two development proposals on the horizon for the village of around 500, local residents have been fighting the plan for over twelve months. Many questions have been raised about the rationale for the costly implementation of sewerage.

At present, an interim plan for staged development along the central spine of the village is still on the table, but members of GASP (Gundaroo Against Sewerage Plant) say that none of it adds up.

“The only reason we can see for any plant is to support new developments by allowing them to obtain more blocks on their land”, said GASP chair Abram Hays.

Under planning provisions, blocks subdivided down to 2000sqm must be connected to a sewer.

The updated ‘spine’ option relies on bagging solids and transporting them to Yass for treatment. GASP believes this requirement and the cost of pumping water up the main line will be significant, and borne by all Yass ratepayers.

These costs will only grow as more houses are connected to sewerage in the new subdivision.

Mr Hays says “since one developer has publicly stated he won’t be subdividing his land into smaller blocks which require sewerage, it seems that the Council’s proposal will best suit the other development”.

GASP members point out that Sutton developers must install private sewerage schemes if they want more blocks, despite almost identical conditions in the neighbouring village.

“None of Council’s reasons for sewerage stack up”, said Mr Hays.

“For example, they’ve said they need to stop multiple private schemes being installed but they’re happy for this to occur in Sutton. This leads us to ask why Council really wants sewerage in Gundaroo.”

Until recently, Bowning and Binalong, which already have a town water supply, were the priorities for sewerage. Councillors have stated Bowning residents want a sewerage scheme. By contrast, Gundaroo residents overwhelmingly voted no to sewerage, which they say is inoperable without sufficient water and costly for the whole Shire.

“We now have three engineers who have told us that it’s not good practice to provide sewerage without water. We asked Council to supply examples where this occurs, and they haven’t. That leaves us with the NSW Government’s Public Work Advisory which advises they can’t find any towns or villages which have one without the other”, Mr Hays said.

Claims that sewerage is necessary to support the village’s 4-5 small businesses have been countered by the fact that Gundaroo’s largest business, Grazing Restaurant and Function Centre, already has a sustainable on-site system, funded by the NSW Government.

GASP believes Council could better support local businesses by helping them apply for funding to install more effective on-site systems.

An argument for the sewerage system has been put around potential contamination of the water table, yet bore tests have shown relatively low levels of E.coli. Council advised residents in their 2017 survey of residents on sewerage ‘that the contamination had not been linked to the on-site disposal of effluent, however this is one of the possible sources.’

In an open letter to residents of Gundaroo Village in February 2018, Yass Valley Mayor Cr Rowena Abbey said “Council has ultimate responsibility for drinking water quality, especially water quality of the Yass River, which provides a water supply for Yass, Bowning, Binalong and soon Murrumbateman.

“Council did not want to see a sewerage system, or potentially two systems, developed for the new developments only and not in Council’s control,” she said. “The aim of the survey undertaken of Gundaroo residents was to provide additional information so that democratically-elected officials were able to make decisions in the best interest of the entire community.”

This week, Cr Abbey said on radio that a decision would not be made until next year, and a proposal would be put together by the end of this year.

“At this stage, council is still exploring the options,” she said.

She added, “We have clearly said that developers have to pay their fees.”

While local councils usually charge a Levy for the provision of a sewer service past a property, Cr Abbey said: “we are not forcing people to join a sewerage system if they don’t wish to.”

Mr Hays said it was “sewerage by stealth.”

“The village doesn’t want a revised version of a sewerage treatment plant, it doesn’t want one at all” Mr Hays said.

Original Article published by Alex Rea on the RiotACT.