The second round Public Consultation for the Penneshaw CWMS will commence shortly. Council is seeking feedback from the community on resiting the Wastewater Treatment Plant & storage lagoon to Binneys Track and extending the collection network to east of Cheopis Street, outlined in the CEO’s Report (Item 3.1 – ‘Penneshaw CWMS Consultation Outcomes Report’ of 28 February 2014 Special Council Meeting) http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/minutesAgendas/20140228%20Special%20Council%20Agenda%20&%20Attachments.pdf.
However, there are several issues arising from the Report which in my view should be clarified before the public consultation process begins. To ensure that the community will be fully informed of the revised proposal when submitting their comments, I gave notice to ask the following questions* at the April ordinary meeting of Council.
* Section 10(2)(b) of Local Government (Procedures at Meetings) Regulations – ‘the question and the reply must be entered in the minutes of the relevant meeting’ and that the minutes must be published on Council’s website: http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/councilmeetings within 5 days after the meeting.
Questions on Notice
Kangaroo Island Council Meeting 9 April 2014
Issues with Penneshaw CWMS Consultation Outcomes Report
Question 1:
Given the location in the southwest and south of the Charing Cross / Cape Willoughby Road Intersection was identified in Item 3.1 – Penneshaw CWNS Consultation Outcomes Report (28 February 2014 Special Council Meeting), as one of the favoured alternative sites for the Wastewater Treatment Plant & Lagoon site, could the CEO explain why this location was ruled out for further assessment and consideration as a potential location for the dam?
Question 2:
Have the landholders in the areas southwest and south of the Charing Cross / Cape Willoughby Road Intersection been approached with a view to secure the land for the dam site? If so, what was the response from the landholders?
Question 3:
Should both of the long term options for wastewater disposal (ie water reuse by either the nearby landholders and/or Oval & Golf Course irrigation) for the preferred Binneys Track site not eventuate, how will the treated wastewater stored in the lagoon be managed or discharged without a controlled release system in place to comply with the EPA and health Department requirements?
Question 4:
Could the CEO describe or provide a plan showing wastewater overflow routes from the preferred Binneys Track dam through downstream land to the sea in the event the storage lagoon reaches its maximum capacity?
Question 5:
Further to ‘question 4’, to what extent will the properties below the dam be affected by overflow of wastewater, and in a worst case scenario when additional inflows to the lagoon and sudden discharge of up to 300 mm surface water caused by wave actions from strong southerly winds occur?
Question 6:
Have the affected property owners below the dam been made aware of the overflow path through their land and the need of an easement on their land for this purpose?
Question 7:
What is the saving in capital cost by extending the collection network to 33 properties east of Cheopis Street, with a system designed for septic tanks (STEDS), in lieu of full sewer as suggested in the report?
Question 8:
Should the STEDS option be adopted for the network extension, will the annual service charge for these particular properties be the same as the others within the Defined Scheme area? If so, will the additional costs associated with installation and de-sludge of these tanks be the responsibility of the Council?
Question 9:
With an additional catchment of 33 properties included in the Defined Scheme, what provision has been made to ensure that the storage lagoon will have sufficient capacity as necessary to minimise the risks and frequency of treated wastewater overflow onto downstream land?
Cr Ken Liu
PO Box 80, KINGSCOTE SA 5223
Ph: 8553 2823 & Mobile: 0428 322 005
Email: ken.liu@bigpond.com