Alan Dickens, Brunswick Heads
The Flow Path Project being proposed by Water and Recycling (W&R) needs a lot more explanation by W&R and the director of infrastructure who oversees the management of W&R.
The agreement and strategy agreed to by Byron Shire Council (BSC) in consultation with the EPA when BSC applied to close South Byron STP (SBSTP) and transfer the sewerage load from SBSTP to the new augmented West Byron STP, was that ninety percent of effluent leaving that plant would go to reuse. Why is BSC now returning to ocean outfalls?
The flow path suggested is an open stormwater drain that currently runs through the Byron industrial estate. Is W&R going to lay pipes for the effluent to run through, or leave the drain open and allow the stormwater to combine with the effluent and run through an open drain?
On another issue, to do with W&R, the mayor has previously stated that the Council has an open mind on what type of delivery system would be implemented if the Mullumbimby gravity sewer mains required replacing. Seems W&R does not agree with the mayor as a contractor has been brought in and completely reconfigured the sewer pump station 4001 in Stuart St Mullumbimby, plus laid a new rising main, 1,055 metres in length at a cost of $7.5k finished 31 July, 2019.
Should the gravity mains require replacing and a vacuum system is chosen as a replacement the sewer pump station 4001, plus rising main would then become obsolete.
