The Kingston District Council has taken a step forward in its bid to provide a new Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) through support from the State Government funded CWMS Program, managed by the Local Government Association (LGA).
The LGA receives funding from the State Government to manage the CWMS Program whose purpose is to provide funding to Councils to subsidise the construction and management of new CWMS schemes.
Council chief executive Nat Traeger said in recent times the council has been facing considerable concerns about septic tank installations, particularly from property owners wishing to develop or upgrade homes.
“Any building development outside of the existing CWMS area is required to have an onsite wastewater system in accordance with SA Health’s Onsite Wastewater Systems (OWS) Code,” she said.
“The code does not allow the location of onsite wastewater systems within 50 metres of an existing groundwater bore and our engineers have estimated that 80-90% of Kingston’s developed allotments have an onsite wastewater system within 50 metres of an existing groundwater bore.
“Whilst the council currently operates a CWMS in Kingston, it does not service the southern and northern areas of the town.”
Deputy Mayor Jeff Pope, who is currently acting in the role of Mayor until such time a supplementary election is held in March 2023, said the council had been investigating measures it could take to alleviate the risk of ground water contamination posed by septic systems being installed outside of the code as well as accommodating any new septic tank systems that are within 50 metres of existing bores.
“Council has been pursuing a solution with vigour since May 2022, when it adopted a general policy position that any OWS applications received cannot be approved other than in accordance with the applicable setback requirements prescribed by the Code, unless the council is satisfied the risks arising from an approval have been adequately mitigated,” he said.
“Due to the significant number of bores in the residential area, there is no reasonable risk mitigation strategy available, leaving the only viable option to expand the existing CWMS or install a new one to service the southern and northern areas of Kingston.”
Deputy Mayor Pope said a CWMS is used to collect, treat and reuse/dispose of wastewater produced in the community in a safe, cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner.
The term CWMS can encompass many different types of wastewater schemes including collection, treatment, and reuse methods to manage wastewater including sewage, septic tank effluent, or combinations of the two.
“Based on the dire need of the Kingston community, the council was successful with a funding allocation of $125k to scope the expansion of the service, including boundary mapping and a capacity assessment, all of which will inform a suitable design for the proposed system,” he said.
Ms Traeger indicated that some 652 properties will be included in the proposed CWMS extension area, which equates to almost 40% of property owners in Kingston set to benefit from the new scheme, if constructed.
“Other than addressing the obvious risk to the environment and people, the project is set to assist with the development and economic prosperity of the town and facilitate better community health outcomes,” she said.
“Whilst in its initial planning stage, it is expected the capital cost will be many millions of dollars and will be the single largest infrastructure project the council has embarked on.
“Actual cost to property owners will be dependent on the level of funding that can be contributed to the project from funding sources outside of the council.
“Council will soon be undertaking a legislative and comprehensive engagement process with property owners within the boundary mapped out for the new service, to discuss the project.
“Council has agreed to fund holding tank pump out costs for Kingston township residential developments until the residential developments can be connected to the proposed new CWMS system on the basis the holding tank pump out dates are tied to the existing contract for the licenced contractor to pump out the RV Park septic tank.”
Ms Traeger said she hoped that council agreeing to assist with holding tank pump out costs would give property owners the confidence to continue to develop whilst the CWMS expansion project was being undertaken.
“It is anticipated the feasibility and concept stage will be completed by March 2023 and that targeted community engagement will commence at that time,” she said.
“Engagement will include individual discussions, community meetings, surveys, discussion papers and any other avenues available and appropriate to the project.”
