Dunedoo wastewater upgrades to commence
Construction will soon get underway to upgrade the Dunedoo Sewage Treatment Plant delivering modern new infrastructure that will service the community for years to come, while providing greater protections for the environment.
The $3.4 million project, funded by the NSW Government and Warrumbungle Shire Council, will see work being rolled out in stages over the next three years.
The first cab off the rank is an upgrade to the ageing facility’s maturation pond which is responsible for disinfecting effluent from the main treatment unit before discharging it back safely to the environment.
It will ensure wastewater is treated to a much higher standard, so it meets modern environmental safety guidelines.
The project also includes upgrades to treatment and sludge management systems, a new aeration unit, improvements to automation to make the plant easier to monitor and control remotely, new amenities and electrical work, along with a better access road.
The current plant was built in 1970 and has passed its design life and is struggling to meet Environmental Protection Agency guidelines with several breaches being recorded over the past nine years.
This is why addressing these wastewater risks has been a major priority for the NSW Government and local council. Work will commence next month with the full upgrade expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
The NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water program provided $1.7 million for the planning and development stage of the project with a further $868,000 from the Restart NSW Water Security for Regions Program for construction.
The rest of the build is being funded by Warrumbungle Shire Council. The Safe and Secure Water Program is supporting over $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with more than 260 in various stages of delivery.
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Director - Infrastructure Development, Lisa Hingerty said:
“We want to ensure regional councils have the right infrastructure in place to provide modern sewerage services that also safeguard the environment.
“That’s why the NSW Government is investing almost $2.6 million towards the project to help Warrumbungle Shire Council overhaul the sewage treatment plant in Dunedoo, so it can support the town now and into the future.
“We know the existing facility is no longer meeting contemporary environmental standards, so it’s great to see this project gaining momentum with shovels in the ground for the first stage of work.”
Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire Council, Ambrose Doolan said:
“Sewage treatment is an essential service and partnering with the NSW Government means we can strike the right balance between supporting the community and better protecting the environment.
“Upgrading the plant will ensure our treatment processes are up to scratch and working more efficiently for the benefit of our 1200 residents and waterways.
“It’s exciting to see the start of this project getting underway, bringing us closer to a safer and more sustainable wastewater treatment facility.”
