A group of community, sporting and business people concerned over Merimbula's proposed ocean outfall say council should re-use 100 per cent of the treated effluent
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A meeting attended by 37 people last Thursday, November 7, heard many were concerned over council's decision to move to an ocean outfall for the disposal of treated effluent, that cannot be re-used, from the Merimbula sewage treatment plant.
Abalone diver John Smythe said those in attendance were agreed there should be no ocean outfall for Merimbula and that there should be 100 per cent re-use of treated effluent.
He said a steering committee had been formed which would meet on Thursday, November 14 with the purpose to form an entity and organise a public meeting.
"We don't want this to be adversarial but we do want to put forward some sustainable options and save money. We reckon we can get more bang for the bucks than $30-$40m on that outfall and that will limit re-use options into the future too," Mr Smythe said.
The group want to see 100 per cent re-use and believe it can be better achieved by having water treated to a potable (drinkable) standard.
For example it seems unlikely that treated water would be used to water Pambula Sports Ground given that children play contact sports there and while it may be possible, the costs will increase. The issue prompted Cr Tony Allen to suggest, at a recent council meeting, that it would probably be cheaper to just use town water for the sports ground.
Mr Smythe said the meeting agreed a resolution.
"Contrary to what council has been claiming, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has not directed council to commit to an ocean outfall there we call on BVSC to suspend their resolution of October 30, 2019," a resolution stated.
"The requirements of the EPA on their website are that the council must submit a preferred option for the beneficial re-use and disposal of treated effluent from Merimbula sewage treatment plant."
Mr Smythe said the meeting urged "BVSC to further comply with the resolution passed on July 3, 2013 whereby if government funding was not forthcoming within the ensuing 12 month period then option 2 would be pursued, being dunal exfiltration system".
It is believed that the resolution of 2013 has not been rescinded. However council has ruled out using dunal exfiltration because of Aboriginal cultural concerns in the area.
It was admitted in an earlier meeting that there were believed to be possibly nine bodies buried in the area.
"Dunal exfiltration leaching through as it is now is a no-no and there's no support for it. We're going back a step. If the treatment is improved it doesn't matter where you put it, even on the beach," Mr Smythe said.
He said they were consulting with Bega and Eden Aboriginal Land Councils and would not want to see interference of cultural sites but in other areas "it would not be a problem if clean water was going into the dunes".
Mr Smythe said there was another issue that had only recently come to light. "Where they have decided to put the end of the pipe is close to stable shell beds which is a breeding ground for cockles and other life stabilised over the years."
He said the marine life could be killed it it was covered in fresh water coming out of the pipe.
Council said that in the mid-2000s, concerns were raised about both the dunal exfiltration system and beach face outfall at Merimbula.
"Council, in July 2013, resolved to adopt an effluent management strategy, including a sewage treatment plant upgrade to improve effluent quality and construction of a deep water ocean outfall for disposal of effluent unable to be used beneficially," council has said.
