Bega Valley Shire Council’s water and sewerage services are now under one roof with the completion and official opening of a new world-class operations centre, that will reduce disruptions and improve monitoring across its South Coast network.
The high-tech facility is a one-stop-shop for Council’s water and sewerage operations and was jointly funded by council and the NSW Government, as part of a project to upgrade water treatment infrastructure for the community.
The $20.8 million project includes $15.2million funding from the state 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 next month and will give residents access to safer and more secure drinking water for decades to come.
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 9.5 megalitres of top-quality drinking water across the region each day and includes four new bores.
Council is also funding the installation of 300 kilowatt solar panels which will power the plant and pumps, and ensure the infrastructure is energy efficient.
Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick, said both assets are a huge win for locals.
“The NSW 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 3.5 megalitres 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.
“Currently we have teams based all across the shire and this will really help our tech and water teams work together as well as increasing our maintance support, and the ability to train staff, this facility is going to help with all of that,” Mr Marshall said.
The NSW Government has invested $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 according to the Government 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 NSW 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 NSW Government’s $1 billion Safe and Secure Water Program, the Water Security for Regions Program, as well as critical drought initiative and emergency funding.
Images: James Fennessy – East Coast Radio
