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Councils Tap Into South Gippsland Initiative

By South Gippsland Shire Council` - 8th October 2004 - Back to News

Thirty members of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health gathered in Leongatha on Friday to address the hard issues associated with wastewater management in sandy soils. Among Councils represented were Portland, Yarra Ranges, Mitchell, Shepparton City, Mornington and Ballarat City.

In a state-wide vacuum of historical evidence and experience with the current problems, South Gippsland is providing substantial leadership to Victorian and interstate Councils with its innovative Commonwealth funded "Wastewater Management in Coastal Settlements of Gippsland" Project.

Project consultant Jim Smith of In Focus Management Group was among the team of specialists who spoke on their areas of expertise in relation to the project, and facilitated discussion groups and information exchange with the officers.

"Most of these problems have been present for years but are now being exacerbated by increased population levels as a result of the ‘sea-change’ phenomenon, " said Mr Smith. "We’re confronting the legacy of a history of inaction in wastewater and we need to address it within the next 10 years."

Council’s Senior Manager, Development, Geoff Hill agrees.

"They are not issues that are going to go away and the process we are going through now to find environmentally sustainable solutions has to be progressed with urgency and commitment by all agencies to protect public health and economic development in both the short and long term."

Other issues covered in the workshop included:

• Risk management survey of landowners in sandy coastal townships.
• Sampling survey of secondary treatment systems compliance.
• Local Laws to make up for the shortfalls in state legislation.
• Digital monitoring of wastewater contamination within stormwater.

"The whole day was extremely valuable," added Geoff, "the collective intelligence and commitment was terrific and has created a strong platform for us to proceed on".

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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