Posted 18/3/12

FROM THE MINISTER FOR WATER

DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 2006

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND WATER OUTCOMES FOR MACEDON WITH NEW SEWERAGE SCHEME

The Maribyrnong River will be healthier, and a supply of recycled water will be available for agricultural irrigation after completion of the Macedon Sewerage Scheme, Water Minister John Thwaites said today.

Launching the completed scheme in Macedon after Community Cabinet, Mr Thwaites said 650 properties could connect to the $13 million initiative.

“The completion of this scheme is great news for the environment and public health,” Mr Thwaites said.

Member for Macedon, Joanne Duncan, said the new scheme stopped failing septic tanks leaking effluent into tributaries of the Maribyrnong and causing other environmental damage in the region.

“In addition, householders can connect to a modern reticulated sewerage scheme that provides a higher quality of life for residents,” Ms Duncan said.

Mr Thwaites congratulated Western Water on completing the scheme, which received $6.7 million in funding from the Bracks Government’s New Town Sewerage Initiative.

“This is a major step forward for the Macedon area, its residents and a significant achievement by Western Water,” Mr Thwaites said.

Thirty kilometres of sewerage reticulation, 15 kilometres of transfer pipeline from Macedon to Riddells Creek and four pump stations at Macedon were built during the two-year project.

The new scheme transfers sewage from Macedon and lower Mt Macedon to the upgraded Riddells Creek Wastewater Purification Plant for treatment and use in agricultural irrigation.

Mr Thwaites said complex construction techniques were adopted to avoid and minimise impact on native vegetation and established gardens and trees.

He said the Bracks Government’s Our Water Our Future action plan had targeted safe and reliable water and sewerage services for regional Victoria as a continuing priority.

The $42 million Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program is helping fund works in towns across regional Victoria that have public health and environment risks caused by inefficient wastewater disposal, such as leaking septic tanks, and inadequate water supply