New STP for NSW mid north coast

Design and investigation work has begun on a proposal by Kempsey Shire Council to construct a new sewage treatment plant near Stuarts Point on the NSW mid north coast.

In late 2018, the council resolved to pursue the option of a sewage treatment plant near Stuarts Point, rather than an original proposal to pipe transfer effluent to the South West Rocks Sewage Treatment Plant.

Under the NSW Government’s Regional Water and Wastewater Backlog Program, the council has been granted $6.63 million in funding to assist in construction of the sewerage scheme and is working to revise the project scope.

Director Operations and Planning, Robert Fish, said investigations into a sustainable sewerage scheme for the Stuarts Point area had been taking place for several years.

“Council is committed to delivering a modern wastewater management system to the villages of Stuarts Point, Grassy Head and Fishermans Reach that currently rely on on-site septic systems to treat and dispose of effluent,” Mr Fish said.

“We engaged a consultant to assess a range of options for the transfer, treatment and disposal of sewage in Stuarts Point, considering the environmental, financial, operational, community and cultural impacts.

“The treatment plant proposal was the preferred option due to the overall scheme cost, environmental and social benefits, and mitigation of impacts on Aboriginal culture and heritage.”

Kempsey Shire Council has identified vacant land north of the existing waste transfer station on Fishermans Reach Road as a potential site for the sewage treatment plant.

Under the proposal a new trunk sewer main will run between Fishermans Reach and Grassy Head, to transfer sewage to the new sewage treatment plant.

Council will work closely with the Environmental Protection Authority to assess options for methods for disposing of the treated effluent, including dunal discharge similar to that used at South West Rocks.

Council estimates that properties could be connected to the sewerage scheme by mid to late 2023. Once the scheme is operational, on-site sewage systems will become redundant.