Bega Valley Shire Council’s water and sewerage operations are receiving a major makeover, with a new world-class operations centre, as well as the installation of four new bores and the installation of 300KW solar panels to power the plant and pumps.
The high-tech facility is a one-stop-shop for Council’s water and sewerage operations and was jointly funded by council and the New South Wales Government, as part of a project to upgrade water treatment infrastructure for the community.
The $20.8 million project includes $15.2 million funding from the New South Wales Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program to build the operations centre, upgrade the water treatment plant and install new bores.
The Bega-Tathra Water Treatment Plant is due to start construction in March 2023 and will reduce disruptions and improve monitoring across its South Coast network, while providing residents with access to safer and more secure drinking water for decades to come.
New South Wales Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said the new operations centre and plant will meet the South Coast’s increased demand on water and sewerage services as the region continues to grow, particularly through its booming tourism industry.
“This state-of-the-art building is the future of water and sewerage management. It includes a full mechanical workshop, open plan offices and storage space and will house 25 operational staff and 15 technical support workers,” Mr Anderson said.
The new Bega-Tathra Water Treatment Plant will deliver up to 9.5ML of top-quality drinking water across the region each day and includes four new bores.
Council is also funding the installation of 300kW solar panels which will power the plant and pumps, and ensure the infrastructure is energy efficient.
Bega Valley Shire Council Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick, said both assets are a huge win for locals.
“The New South Wales Government has a proven track record of working in partnership with the local council to deliver new and upgraded water and sewerage infrastructure including investing over $10 million for the newly completed Brogo-Bermagui Water Treatment Plant, which, once fully commissioned, will triple current capacity to over 3.5ML per day, providing up to 6,000 residents and businesses with filtered, fluoridated water for the first time.”
Bega Valley Shire Council’s Water and Sewerage Services Manager, Steve Marshall, said finishing the operations centre and nearing construction of the plant are huge milestones for the community.
The New South Wales Government has invested a record $67.5 million to deliver 12 water and sewerage infrastructure projects across the Bega electorate since 2013.
The package includes $8.8 million for planned upgrades to the Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant including a new deep ocean outfall which will deliver better environmental outcomes by ensuring any excess treated effluent that can’t be recycled will be safely disposed away from the local environment.
The New South Wales Government has also committed to support the proposed Yellow Pinch Water Treatment Plant, which will provide filtered water to Merimbula, Eden and Candelo.
Funding for these projects has come from the New South Wales Government’s $1 billion Safe and Secure Water Program, the Water Security for Regions Program, as well as critical drought initiative and emergency funding.
