Southern Grampians Shire Council has released a report on sewage wastewater in Branxholme and is seeking public feedback from the community. The study examines a range of potential systems that would improve environmental and public health conditions and allow for future development of the town.
Like many other small townships in Victoria, households in Branxholme rely on septic tanks for treatment of domestic wastewater. As these systems age, they are prone to failure providing a hazard to human health and the environment.
The potential of towns such as Branxholme to accommodate a larger population is also limited by the use of septic tanks because a large area of land is required for on-site disposal of wastewater which limits further subdivision.
Council conducted the study to examine some possible alternative wastewater treatment systems that could address both the problem of pollution and future development in Branxholme.
The options that were examined were a traditional gravity sewer that is used in Hamilton, Dunkeld and Coleraine; decentralised systems which incorporate an earth bank on the road reserve to utilise the treated water; a pressurised sewer similar to what is used in Lake Bolac; and an upgrade of existing systems with regular pump-outs.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Director Shire Futures, Michael McCarthy said, “We have looked at a range of options here with the intent of achieving the necessary outcomes at the most reasonable cost. Once the community has had the opportunity to read the report, understand the various options and provide their feedback, we will be in a better position to know what the next step will be.”
A community information session will be held on Thursday 18 July at the Branxholme CFA Complex from 5.30pm – 7.00pm, where residents and other interested parties can find out more about the various technologies that were considered in the report and provide feedback.
The study can be viewed at the Mobile Library, from the Branxholme Progress Association or it can be downloaded from Council’s website www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au/publiccomment
Written submissions on the study will be accepted until 2 August 2013 and should be addressed to the Branxholme Sewage and Wastewater Review, Southern Grampians Shire Council, Locked Bag 685, Hamilton 3300.
Further information regarding the Branxholme Sewage and Wastewater Feasibility Study can be obtained by contacting Council’s Sustainability Coordinator, Kylie McIntyre on 5573 0220.
