Have your say on effluent management in Warrnambool

Wannon Water is calling for community feedback on the future management of treated effluent in Warrnambool which is currently discharged to the ocean.

Managing Director Andrew Jeffers said managing sewage and trade waste at the Warrnambool Sewage Treatment Plant was a complex and constantly evolving task.

A major $85 million project is currently underway to upgrade the plant to meet and cater for increasing loads from industrial growth and residential development. It will also improve the quality of treated effluent discharged into the ocean.

Mr Jeffers said Wannon Water now wanted to understand the community’s long-term expectations on how treated effluent should be managed in the future.

“There are general concerns worldwide about the increasing impact that all sewage outfalls are having on the marine environment, and the need to further consider biodiversity impacts and human health concerns. There are also growing calls for effluent to be treated to a safer standard and re-used for beneficial purposes, supporting adaptation to climate change and taking pressure of our drinking water supplies.”

As a result, Wannon Water is developing an effluent management strategy that will investigate alternative methods for further treating the sewage and trade waste, and for the disposal and beneficial reuse of treated effluent. It will consider issues including:

• The costs of managing sewage and keeping water and sewerage service bills affordable.
• The results of scientific studies.
• Solutions that are technically feasible.
• Environmental impacts.
• Reuse of treated effluent for beneficial purposes.
• What matters to the community.

Mr Jeffers said Wannon Water was now seeking feedback from its customers and the community about their priorities to help determine a short list of options to consider.

Interested people can chat to the team during pop-ups at the following locations:

Saturday 10 August

• 10 – 11:30am – Near the Liebig Street pedestrian crossing.
• 12:30 – 2pm – Gateway Plaza.

Sunday 11 August

• 9 – 1pm – Koroit market.

Saturday 17 August

• 10 – 11:30am – Near the Liebig Street pedestrian crossing.
• 12:30 – 2pm – Gateway Plaza.

Sunday 18 August

• 9 – 1pm – Fresh Food Market at Lake Pertobe.

Online engagement

People can obtain further information, provide feedback or register for an online pop-up by going to Wannon Water’s Engage & Explore portal.

The online pop-ups are scheduled on:

• Tuesday 20 August – 12 noon – 1 pm
• Wednesday 21 August – 6 – 7 pm
• Wednesday 28 August – 12 noon – 1pm
• Thursday 29 August – 6 – 7 pm