Don’t dump our waste in the dunes say Tweed Shire residents

Residents and community associations in the Pottsville and Cabarita area are calling for an end to sewage discharges into the waterways and to have the cleanest possible effluent discharged to the dunes.

‘Support is growing for the campaign urging Tweed Shire Council to upgrade Hastings Point Wastewater Treatment Plant to the best available technology, and in the process much reduce the tonnes of polluting effluents that are annually dumped and accumulating in the dunes,’ said the community group in a press release.

Engineering consultant and Pottsville resident, Philip Arthur, is calling on councillors to choose the best available water treatment technology for the upgrade so that the pristine environment around Hastings Point, Cabarita Beach and the Cudgera Creek waterway that flows into the ocean at Hastings Point can be enjoyed by future generations of residents and visitors.

‘I am deeply concerned that the plant discharges effluent with unacceptably high pollutant loads into the dunes between Bogangar and Hastings Point. As one of northern NSW’s ecological gems and premier tourist destinations, it’s imperative for the Tweed Coast that long-term sustainability be given priority,’ Mr Arthur said. 

‘We can’t risk the legacy of the area for a questionable short-term financial benefit. The current practice of pumping contaminated effluent into the dunes adjacent to tourist destinations and only metres from the beach is not an acceptable long-term solution. 

‘It’s good that the council plans to upgrade the existing plant. However, I am disturbed that council seems intent on simply expanding it while retaining the current process. Best available technology, using membrane bioreactors, is one of the other options available to council, but is currently not favoured as it’s estimated to be slightly more expensive.’

Petition

The community groups have been collecting signatures in support of the ‘best’ upgrade at local shops in the Pottsville and Cabarita area and at the local supermarkets with pressure mounting for Tweed Council to deliver the sewerage upgrade that dovetails with the area’s irreplaceable natural assets, while also recognizing the importance of local tourism and public health. 

Mr Arthur has highlighted the significant impact of population increases, and continued pressure to a increase the population in the region.

‘There were significantly fewer pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, micro-plastics, pathogens and other potentially hazardous materials released into our wastewater 50, or even 20, years ago,’ he said. 

‘Furthermore, the quantity of these pollutants will only increase over time and continue to accumulate in the dunes. By simply expanding the antiquated technology currently in use, we would miss the opportunity to keep future contaminants out of the dunes and waterways. ‘Unlike the best available technology, council’s proposed upgrade also doesn’t preclude certain chlorine-resistant pathogens such as cryptosporidium and giardia. These parasites can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. 

‘So why not do the right thing now? In the long run we’ll save money by avoiding further upgrades and reap substantial environmental and public health benefits. Common sense dictates that we install best available technology. The result will be a wastewater product that is far safer to release into the natural environment or alternatively to use for irrigation of public spaces and private properties, saving precious drinking water.’

The plant upgrade is expected to be on the Tweed council meeting agenda on February 20. You can access the meeting online: https://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors-meetings/council-meetings or go in person. Meetings alternate monthly between Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.