For the first time, Nelligen residents have access to a central water supply and sewerage system following the completion of a ground-breaking $26 million project that boosts liveability and makes the dependence on rainwater and septic tanks a thing of the past.
The New South Wales Government contributed $3.5 million to the project, and Eurobodalla Shire Council contributed $22.5 million. The combined funding will deliver new infrastructure that will improve the reliability and quality of water and wastewater services for the town’s 400 residents and boost water security.
The project has connected Nelligen to existing water and sewer infrastructure in Batemans Bay.
“This is brilliant news for the residents who had never had a 21st-century central water and sewerage system before,” New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Executive Director of Infrastructure Development, Lisa Hingerty, said.
“Having to rely on rainwater tanks is highly unpredictable, especially in the hotter months and with climate change. Outdated septic tanks are not great for the environment and require a lot of maintenance at the expense of the property owner.
“Getting this modern water and wastewater infrastructure across the finish line will significantly improve day-to-day life for locals and help future-proof services, so they’re set up for the coming decades, which is a massive win for the community.”
The water supply scheme includes 15km of pipelines, a pump station, and two reservoirs. These will transfer water to homes and provide an adequate supply for firefighting, even during periods of high demand.
The sewerage scheme delivers 8km of sewer rising main, a pump station main, and a reticulation system that will collect sewage from 160 individual properties.
“Access to water is vital for any community, and delivering a more secure and reliable supply to households in Nelligen signals a new chapter in the village’s history,” Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Matthew Hatcher said.
“Collecting and storing enough rainwater can be challenging, and we know there are properties in the area that don’t have suitable space or proper soil for on-site sewage disposal, so this project is a substantial change for residents and visitors.
“We’re so pleased to have had the NSW Government’s support in completing this monumental project that enables residents and visitors to consistently have access to the shire’s drinking water while ensuring that sewage is treated appropriately off-site.”
Previously, Nelligen was 100 per cent reliant on rainwater tanks and water carting, while on-site septic tanks managed wastewater.
The project has taken five years to complete, with impacts from bushfires and COVID-19 causing major delays.
The NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program supports more than $1 billion worth of regional projects across the state, with more than 260 in various delivery stages.
