Funding locked-in to progress Armidale’s sewage treatment plant

Armidale’s one step closer to securing an upgraded sewage treatment plant, with design work underway to overhaul the current facility thanks to over $1.2 million being invested by the NSW Government and Armidale Regional Council.

The work will complete the design to upgrade the more than 80-year-old plant, constructing a modern state-of-the-art facility capable of improving effluent quality and supporting the town’s future growth.

The current infrastructure is past its use by date and can no longer keep up with demand which is why the current trickling filter plant will be replaced with a high-tech plant fit for the 21st century.

It is designed to be more user friendly for the operators, require less maintenance and more importantly will better protect the environment by treating sewage to a much higher standard.

The project is being co-funded by the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program and Armidale Regional Council with both contributing $617,226 each.

Once the design work is complete, the project will be shovel ready.

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 DCCEEW Executive Director Infrastructure Development, Lisa Hingerty, said:

“This money will help Armidale complete the design work that will help secure an upgraded and improved facility that boosts its wastewater services ensuring the infrastructure can meet the future needs of this thriving regional centre.

“While the existing plant has served the community for many years, its infrastructure is outdated, and no longer meets contemporary sewage standards.

“The upgrade will achieve better environmental outcomes thanks to new technology that will consistently produce higher quality effluent.”

Mayor of Armidale Regional Council, Sam Coupland, said:

“We’re pleased to have the NSW Government’s support to enable us to fast track the project to tender ready phase.

“Construction of a new advanced sewage treatment plant will lock in the infrastructure we need for today and for the future.

“It’s been more than 80 years since the plant was built and there’s now better ways to treat sewage, so this money is absolutely critical in enabling us to treat wastewater to the highest possible standard for the benefit of our community and the environment.”