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In 2000, Ballina Shire Council began developing the Ballina Shire Urban Water Management Strategy (UWMS). The strategy was needed to establish the long-term plans for water management in Ballina Shire. The Urban Water Management plan was finalised in September 2003. The Strategy aims to:
As part of this strategy, the program called the Ballina-Lennox Head Wastewater Reclamation and Augmentation Program (WRAPP) was launched in mid 2005. Ballina Shire Council has now moved into the implementation phase of the various elements of this Strategy. A major element includes the long terms management of wastewater from existing and projected future development in the Ballina-Lennox Head area. The WRAAP program of works includes;
An important first step of the planning for reclaimed water was the preparation of a Reclaimed Water Masterplan for the WRAAP, which outlines in greater detail the objectives, targets, uses and times frames for reclaimed water usage in the Shire. Ballina Shire Council involved the community in the development of the Ballina-Lennox Head Reclaimed Water Reuse Masterplan for how reclaimed water will be reused across the Shire. A timetable for the Masterplan development and community involvement was as follows:
Ballina-Lennox Head Reclaimed Water Reuse Masterplan The RWR Masterplan is based on the UWMS and has been further developed following a process that include a number of technical studies, analysis and research into what community wants. A technical report titled the Supplementary Report which supports this Masterplan, provides a more detailed description of these studies and research, and describes the other reclaimed water reuse options that were considered prior to determining the preferred scheme to service the Ballina-Lennox Head area. Ballina and Lennox Head RWF Ultimate Upgrades Council has engaged the Department of Commerce’s NSW Water Solutions to develop the ultimate upgrade of the Ballina and Lennox Head Reclaimed Water Facilities that are programmed for completion by 2011. The ultimate upgrades will include new wastewater reclamation plants to provide higher quality reclaimed water for reuse. The Ballina Shire community will have an opportunity to review and make comments on the draft Environmental Assessments when they go on public exhibition, later in 2007. The Assessments will include the investigation results of any impacts the upgraded facilities may have on the local area, such as traffic and access, noise, visual and lighting, water quality, ecology, cultural heritage, social systems and water management.
North Ballina Sewage Pumping Station Consultants, GHD Pty Ltd undertook a study to determine the capacity of the sewage pumping station in North Creek Road to meet the demands associated with further urban and industrial development in the North Ballina and the Ballina Heights areas. Investigations determined that the most effective solution was to construct an additional pumping station. The draft concept design and environmental assessment for the North Ballina Sewage Pumping Station are now complete. The sewage pumping station is to be located on North Creek Road and will help meet the demands associated with further development in the North Ballina and Ballina Heights areas. The community will be notified when they can view the environmental assessment for the pump station. Council will be seeking development approval for the construction of these works. The pump station is programmed for construction in 2007. Local residents will be notified prior and during the various construction phases.
Construction of Reclaimed Water Treatment Plant Currently Ballina Shire has Reclaimed Water Facilities (RWF) as part of its infrastructure. However with the expansion of use of reclaimed water, further treatment via a Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) will be necessary. The preferred scenario for increasing the usage of reclaimed water is outlined in the Ballina-Lennox Head Reclaimed Water Reuse Masterplan. Implementation of the Masterplan will involve the upgrading and building of new structures and pipe networks, such as a Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), in order to treat the water to different quality levels for different uses. The WRAAP project involves a number of projects to be undertaken over a number of years. Each project has its own EIA requirements and community consultation activities. A key outcome of the consultation phase is to gain valuable insight into the values, interests, opinions and concerns of the community and stakeholder groups and input this information into the various projects and decision making process. As part of the process to further inform the Masterplan of the views of the community of reclaimed water uses and their willingness to pay. A Social Research Study was undertaken. A number of communication and consultation activities are in place to support the WRAAP Program. Water Talk – A number of WaterTalk Newsletters have been produced throughout the process to keep the community informed about the progress of the WRAPP, as well as any other issues that arise. This Newsletter has been distributed to the entire Ballina-Lennox Head shire. 1800 Community Input Line - A community input line was set up for the duration of the program where the community are able to call a toll free number to ask any questions that they may have about the process. The community can ring the following number for more information 1800 810 680 or email mailto:communityinput@ghd.com.au Website - Information on the program was made available on the GHD website throughout the process http://www.ghd.com.au/ballina_shire_water Fact Sheets – A series of fact sheets were produced and can be viewed on Ballina Councils webpage http://www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/. These have been recently updated to coincide with the launch of the Masterplan. Telephone Surveys – Telephone surveys of 601 individuals were conducted with those residents owning or renting property with town sewerage connected. Focus Groups - Four group discussions were conducted with residents who pay rates, or rent, a home or business with town sewerage. Masterplan Consultation – Community consultation will take place throughout July in the form of Public Exhibition of the Masterplan. Information sessions will also be conducted and a number of media releases will be developed. Throughout December 2006 Council’s consultants undertook a quantitative survey over the telephone to ascertain the local communities perceptions on reclaimed water reuse. This quantitative research allowed statistically valid inferences to be made about the population at large. A total of 601 individuals living in the Ballina area participated in the interviews. A number of focus groups were also held in March 2007 as a follow-up qualitative approach. The findings of this quantitative and qualitative assessment assisted Council in making a decision on the preferred options for reclaimed water reuse.The results of the telephone surveys and focus group outcomes are reported Social Research Study. Ballina Shire Council in conjunction with Rous Water has initiated the Ballina Heights Dual Water Supply System. This dual water supply system allows residents to have access to two water sources. One which is potable, meaning water that is safe for humans to drink and one which is reclaimed, meaning it is wastewater that has been treated to use for things such as watering the garden, toilet flushing, washing the car or a pond in your backyard. This water is not generally treated to the standards required for drinking water, but is at a standard appropriate for other uses. All reclaimed water supplied to houses in the Ballina Shire area is subject to the NSW Guidelines for Urban and Residential Use of Reclaimed Water in order to safeguard public health and the environment.
Take a look at the latest issue of Water Talk for news on what’s been happening since the UWMS was adopted in 2003.
Contact the Project Team If you have any questions about the UWMS, please contact GHD’s community relations team: Email: communityinput@ghd.com.au |
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