Connection time for Robertson
Wingecarribee Shire Council has this week announced that connection to the long awaited Robertson Sewerage Scheme is finally available to residents of the Shire’s most easterly village.
“The days of pump-out trucks will soon be a thing of the past for residents of Robertson as they begin connecting to the newly completed Robertson Sewerage Scheme,” said Council’s General Manager Jason Gordon. “This announcement is the final stage of this multi-million project.”
Work on the scheme, which included the installation of 25 kilometres of sewerage reticulation around the village, a pumping station, effluent transfer main, irrigation dam and fully enclosed sewage treatment plant was commissioned at the end of June following years of planning and construction.
“This facility is long overdue but after many years of false starts, residents and visitors to Robertson will finally be served by a first-class sewage treatment facility,” Mr Gordon said. “I would like to thank all the residents of Robertson for their patience and support.”
The hybrid sewage scheme features a mix of traditional gravity sewered areas and low pressure pumping units servicing properties on the outskirts of the village.
“Apart from providing a modern sewage service for almost 700 initial properties and taking sewage trucks off the road, residents and guests can also look forward to cleaner waterways and a healthier environment,” Mr Gordon added.
As part of the scheme, the effluent will be transported via underground piping to the newly constructed sewage treatment plant where it will undergo advanced tertiary treatment involving micro-filtration and ultraviolet light disinfection.
Once processed, the high quality treated wastewater will be transferred via a 15 kilometre effluent transfer main to a purpose built 47 million litre storage dam in Glenquarry. The treated effluent will then be used for pasture irrigation on 42 hectares of agricultural land.
“Not only are we removing what was previously partially treated effluent from the local waterway, we’re now treating it to the point where it’s become a valuable by-product,” Mr Gordon said.
“In fact, in an average year, it’s estimated some 140 million litres of effluent will be diverted, treated and re-used for irrigation.”
The $33.6 million dollar Robertson Sewerage Scheme was project managed by NSW Public Works, constructed by contractors AJ Lucas Group and jointly funded by Wingecarribee Shire Council, the NSW State Government’s Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program and the Sydney Catchment Authority’s Accelerated Sewerage Program.
A connection point for Robertson residents has been provided within each property. Owners will need to engage a licensed Plumber to carry out the connection to the Council sewerage main.
A detailed Sewerage Connection Information Kit has been provided for all residents. For further information visit www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/water-sewerage, email wscmail@wsc.nsw.gov.au or phone 4868 0888.
Due to delays in construction, Councillors resolved earlier in the year to provide residents of Robertson with a 50 per cent refund of their 2012/13 sewer access charge. This refund will be applied as a credit to the upcoming Rates Notices.
“Residents have until 30 June next year to connect and pump out subsidies will continue for a further five months until December this year, but to enjoy all the benefits, including a cleaner environment, I encourage them to connect as soon as possible,” Mr Gordon said.