Planning for Moama's sewage infrastructure future
The historic town of Moama is one step closer to locking in a new or upgraded sewage treatment plant thanks to $300,000 from the NSW Government and $200,000 from Murray River Council.
The investment will deliver an options study and concept design recommending the best infrastructure solutions to safeguard top-quality wastewater services for the popular tourist destination and growing community of 7,500.
Moama's current sewage treatment plant, built in 1996, is nearing its capacity and becomes stressed during peak holiday season when it is under increased demand.
As tourism continues to thrive in the riverfront town, the plant will struggle to meet the stringent national effluent quality requirements.
The new funding will allow Council to launch detailed investigations into the best possible solutions, including producing initial designs for any new or upgraded works.
The studies are expected to be completed by end of June this year.
It's the latest funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's (NSW DCCEEW) Safe and Secure Water Program, which supports more than $1 billion worth of water security and quality projects across the state, with over 270 projects in various stages of delivery.
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director Infrastructure Development, Lisa Hingerty, said:
"We're investing in regional towns like Moama to ensure their infrastructure can deliver first-class wastewater services well into the future.
"Tourism is a huge economic driver for the region, with Moama attracting thousands of visitors every year, which is why these early scoping works are a critical first step towards helping Council deliver a modern sewage system that can support a healthy and growing community.
"While the current plant has served Moama well for over three decades, it is vital that the plant's technology keeps up with modern standards so that it can continue to treat sewage to a high quality so it can be safely discharged back into the environment."
Murray River Council Mayor, Frank Crawley, said:
"This is another great example of Council working collaboratively with the NSW Government to investigate ways to deliver new infrastructure that will help future-proof wastewater services for Moama.
"This funding will enable us to get the ball rolling by looking at all the options on the table to ensure we have the right infrastructure in place to cater for our increasing population now and into the future."
