Lismore’s deputy mayor Gianpiero Battista has turned the first sod on the $25 million upgrade of the South Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
The council says the upgrade will transform the 80-year-old plant into a modern facility with an increased capacity of 45 per cent. The new STP will significantly improve environmental impacts and will include the installation of a 334kW solar farm on site.
‘We are really excited that we can generate up to 60% of our electricity from an on-site solar farm. This farm will be the largest on the Northern Rivers and it is definitely the way of the future for powering public infrastructure,’ Cr Battista said.
At present the South Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant can service around 15,000 people. The upgraded plant will be able to service 22,500 people, catering for expected population increases including growth on the western side of the city due to the North Lismore Plateau.
Opponents of the Plateau development have been contacted for comment.
‘The technology we will use to build the plant is a far cry from what we had back in the 1930s and the proposed design will provide high quality treated sewage as well as optimise chemical usage and power consumption,’ Cr Battista said.
For the duration of works there will be a 40km/h reduced speed limit outside the plant along Three Chain Road, as large vehicles and machinery will utilise this road for construction and deliveries to the site.
Lismore City Council urged members of the community to take additional caution driving on Three Chain Road due to the extra traffic and the changed conditions.
Time lapse footage throughout the duration of works will be available for viewing from tomorrow on the council’s website at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.
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