Council hopes to submit the environmental impact statement in May 2020 and have approval by October 2020 for the $30m plus project.

Finding a replacement solution for the broken beach outfall at Merimbula and dunal ex-filtration ponds that impact an Aboriginal burial site containing nine bodies, is considered imperative.

The proposal is to build a deep water ocean outfall, increase the treatment of effluent using UV light and less chlorine and reuse more effluent by building an irrigation line into the Pambula Sporting Complex.

With a lack of community appetite for recycled drinking water, the options of dunal ex-filtration or ocean outfall were the only ones that could be considered and cultural issues have ruled out dunal ex-filtration.

Council currently sends treated effluent to Pambula Golf Club and Oaklands, but in any irrigation system the question is always what to do with the effluent when it rains and irrigation is not required. The Environmental Protection Agency insists that there must be an alternative. Currently between 20-30 per cent of treated effluent is used for irrigation.

In addition, biosolids, which used to be put into landfill, are now taken by organic recycling company Arkwood for delivery to local farms. 

However, council said increasing reuse of treated effluent is limited by the terrain in the immediate area as well as by restrictions which do not allow treated effluent to be used in wetlands (because of run-off which could be into lakes) or national parks.

Bega Valley Shire Council is taking to the streets again weekend to talk to the community about the Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant and Ocean Outfall Project.

Water and sewer services staff will tour beaches and local markets to talk to people about planned upgrades to the Merimbula plant, the ocean outfall and using recycled water.

The tour will start at Bar Beach this Saturday March 16 and move to Merimbula Markets on Sunday. 

Water and sewer manager, Jim Collins, said the tour provided a great opportunity for people to talk one-on-one with council staff and representatives from environmental consultant AECOM who have worked extensively on the project.

“We’re targeting local markets as locations where large groups of people gather so we can give as many people as possible the opportunity to have a chat with us.

“We felt it was also important to speak with beach-goers who may have questions about this major project,” said Mr Collins.

“During the tour we will outline the results of the marine ecology and hydrographic studies we’ve completed as well as the Merimbula Bay dye dispersion tests, flora and fauna studies and the Aboriginal significance study.

“We have to ensure public health standards are met but we are also committed to protecting our unspoilt aquatic and land environments,” added Mr Collins.

Council says that the Merimbula STP is one of 10 that it owns and operates to provide safe and sustainable sewerage services to the community. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has instructed council to upgrade the STP and construct an ocean outfall to dispose of excess recycled water during high rainfall periods. Upgrades to the plant will also improve the quality of its recycled water.

The tour times and locations are:

Bar Beach, Merimbula between 8am and 11am on Saturday 16 March; and

Merimbula Seaside Markets between 8am and 12.30pm on Sunday 17 March.

If you are unable to get to one of the drop-in sessions, then you can find out more about the project through the dedicated website at www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au/MerimbulaSTPupgrade.

Alternatively, call the toll free number 1800 029 478.or email council at merimbulaSTPupgrade@begavalley.nsw.gov.au with your questions.