Wastewater management schemes are currently being investigated for the townships of:

Loch Sport
Coongulla and Glenmaggie

Below is a summary of the current status of planning for these schemes as at January 2010.

Loch Sport

Gippsland Water and Wellington Shire Council are currently assessing the best way to provide Loch Sport with a practical wastewater management system.

Whitehead & Associates Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd has been engaged to undertake a septic tank system audit and land capability assessment in the town. This is to identify areas of high environmental and public health need, and check the ability of local soil to handle various waste management options.

The land capability assessment also checks:
• How well existing on-site wastewater management systems, including septic systems and aerated wastewater treatment systems, are working.
• The quality of surface water and groundwater.
• The capability of land in residential areas to safely manage treated effluent.

Existing  on-site wastewater systems on 10 percent of properties (approximately 150)  were inspected by Whiteheads & Associates  in January 2010. Significant offsite work is now being undertaken before a detailed report is prepared. This includes the analysis of soil and water samples taken from properties in the town.

Findings from the land capability assessment final report will be used to assist Gippsland Water and Wellington Shire in planning future wastewater management options.

Coongulla and Glenmaggie

Gippsland Water and Wellington Shire Council have conducted investigations into the best wastewater management system for Coongulla and Glenmaggie.

Gippsland Water with its consultants, completed an options study in 2009 which looked at a variety of wastewater management solutions for the two townships.

A total of five on-property and off-property wastewater management options were considered, with three options considered in detail. The results of this study pointed to a reticulated pressure grinder pump system as the preferred option, 

In brief, this system involves installing underground pumping pits on each property, which sewage passes through before being transported through sewer mains to Gippsland Water’s existing wastewater treatment lagoons at Heyfield.

This is the preferred option because, on balance, it provides the best outcome based on financial, environmental and socio-economic considerations. It is a cost effective option that utilises proven technology, which is suited to these localities, and can be undertaken without significant risk.

The next step in the process is to continue the planning and design work on the project. This will enable the development of a project scope and a determination of the cost of the works required. This data will be used to develop a fully-costed business case which is anticipated to be presented to the Gippsland Water Board for consideration in mid-2010.