Text which accompanied the largely signed petition AGAINST THE PROPOSED DEEP-SEWER SYSTEM FOR PENNESHAW

In our conversations with residents of Penneshaw we found that people are fearful that the current CWMS proposal is a backward move which will be an irrevocable backward step. Many of them are also stating that they would like more information about both Biolytix and the CWMS proposed project from the Council. We have spoken about the Biolytix system but we would like the Council to embrace Biolytix as vigorously as they have the system which they chose. They are proposing a technology which may have served its purpose last century but there are alternatives which are cleaner, cheaper and with a smaller carbon footprint. All of which a small town like Penneshaw needs for today’s purposes. There is no question that some of the trench type systems being used in Penneshaw are past their use by dates and they need to be updated and we totally agree with this.

The proposed scheme lacks foresight and care for the environment. This is a sensitive environment and should be treated as such. Much of the income generated is from tourism and any infrastructure which is not compatible with the beauty and amenity of Penneshaw should not be used, particularly when it is an eyesore with potential smelliness for all to see and smell.

Many people have also referred to the proximity of the effluent pipes to the sea, the hard rock in our area and the difficulty of laying the necessary pipes. There are also risks of damage to the environment and on a wider scale such as, effluent pipes very close to the sea, possibly 10 metres from the sea at the main pumping station which could contaminate the coastline as has happened in the eastern states during the floods last week and dramatically in the floods in Queensland this year. Wave action combined with high tide would easily allow the sea water to pass through the storm water drain under the road. This is a very questionable location for the placement underground of the effluent.

The type of rock in Penneshaw will need a great deal of heavy equipment to dig the necessary trenches which may also impact on the housing, much of which is close to the sea. In our particular area where the main pumping station is to be located the rock is very close or at the surface and has inhibited the making of roads in the area. In fact there is a road nearby, Rapide Drive, along Frenchmans Terrace which had to be closed instead of tackling the surrounding rock. Again this is a very questionable location for the placement underground of the effluent.

The Council’s consultants from W & G, state that saline water can ingress the pipes. This may cause the concrete to rot and the pumps to be corroded over time, resulting in breakdowns and expense. This disadvantage was also noted by KBR in their report to Council for [the CWMS scheme in] American River. Any saline water carried to the ponds will also affect the salinity in the ponds which is to be sent back to the town for irrigating the oval and or golf course. The reverse of this problem is the effluent escaping into the sea. In fact the report states 15 items of disadvantages of the system they are recommending. In summary we are paying for this damage of the environment and debt to the council and therefore, the residents, for 50 years and beyond, just for irrigating the oval and part of the golf course. There are other ways of achieving this objective. The cleaning up of the septic tanks should be done by the Council mandating for the use of modern technology which has very little impact on the environment or residents cost of living.

We plead with the Council to respect the resident’s concerns for the environment. We do have many other issues in terms of capital costs and running costs.

Shirley Knight

Note: This article accompanied the very successful petition with 220 signatures in 2009. The use of the company Biolytix should now be read to include other Bio type systems. The principle has not changed – we want to manage our own poo, in the cheapest, environmentally friendly, and no-yearly-fee way.