Bega Valley Shire Council’s Treatment Plant Coordinator, Jason Darcy, at the Merimbula/Pambula beach-face outfall. Photo: Brent Occleshaw for BVSC.
The idea of treated sewage flowing out on to Merimbula/Pambula beach has always raised eyebrows and a sense of embarrassment. The days of that rusty ‘poo pipe’ are coming to an end, but how thrilled will locals be to hear that an ocean outfall is the solution?
Bega Valley Shire Council is about to test the plan with the community detailing necessary upgrades to the Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and explaining why an Ocean Outfall is the solution.
Water and Sewer Services staff will tour beaches and local markets over the next two weekends, starting at Bar Beach this Saturday, March 9 and Pambula Markets on Sunday.
Water and Sewer Manager, Jim Collins, says the tour provides an opportunity for people to talk one-on-one with Council staff and representatives from environmental consultant AECOM who have worked extensively on the project.
“We’re targeting local markets as locations where large groups of people gather so we can give as many people as possible the opportunity to have a chat with us,” he says.
“We felt it was also important to speak with beach-goers who may have questions about this major project.
“During the tour we will outline the results of the marine ecology and hydrographic studies we’ve completed as well as the Merimbula Bay dye dispersion tests, flora and fauna studies and the Aboriginal significance study.
“We have to ensure public health standards are met but we are also committed to protecting our unspoilt aquatic and land environments,” Mr Collins adds.
The Merimbula STP is one of 10 that Council owns and operates on behalf of the community.
The current beach face outfall once did extend beyond the waves, but it was destroyed by a large storm in the 1970s. Since then, treated effluent has flowed across the beach and into the waters of Merimbula Bay. Council says it tries to reuse as much treated sewage from the Merimbula STP as possible via irrigation at Pambula Merimbula Golf Course and farmland at Oaklands. The remaining effluent is disposed of using either dunal exfiltration ponds or the beach-face outfall.
According to Council, the NSW Environment Protection Authority has instructed it to upgrade the STP and construct an ocean outfall to dispose of excess recycled water during high rainfall periods. The upgrades are also expected to improve the quality of Council’s recycled water.
The tour times and locations are:
- Bar Beach, Merimbula between 8.00 am and 11.00 am on Saturday, March 9 ;
- Pambula Markets between 8.00 am and 12.30 pm on Sunday, March 10;
- Bar Beach, Merimbula between 8.00 am and 11.00 am on Saturday, March 16;
- Merimbula Seaside Markets between 8.00 am and 12.30 pm on Sunday, March 17.
If you are unable to get to one of the drop-in sessions you can find out more about the project via Council’s website, call the toll free info line 1800 317 028, or email [email protected]
#Region Media is taking part in a Council media briefing on the project this Friday, more to come.
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