The residents and community groups who are advocating for alternative recommendations to the staff recommendation for the upgrade of the Hastings Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (HPWTP) have expressed their ‘dismay’ at the Tweed Shire Council (TSC) staffs continued promotion of ‘option 4’.
‘The Tweed Coast communities of Pottsville, Hastings Point, Round Mountain and Cabarita Beach/Bogangar are dismayed to read Tweed Shire Council’s rebuttal to our communities’ demands for better than council’s preferred option for the proposed upgrade to the HPWTP,’ they told The Echo.
There are five options that have been put forward as part of the proposed upgrade to the HPWTP and the decision will take place today at the Tweed Shire Council meeting in Tweed Heads.
‘It must be said upfront that Tweed Council has many fine professionals, including top-notch engineers associated with wastewater treatment, such as Mr Wright who has been quoted in the previous article. All the more baffling to the community, which now includes a team of retired consulting engineers, that council has doubled down in endorsing an option that represents a patch-up and expansion of the poorly performing and outdated existing plant.
‘Modern technology is available that solves legitimate community concerns regarding pollution to our dunes and waterways, and the outrageous stench and noise issues associated with the plant.’
https://www.yoursaytweed.com.au/hastings-point-plant-upgrade
Noise, occur and discharges
Tweed Shire Council staff have said that, ‘regardless of the upgrade option selected, any new or replaced equipment will be designed to comply with current noise and odour regulations.’
They further added that, ‘No upgrade option will remove all possibility of periodic discharges into Christies Creek during extreme wet weather events, though these are rare.’
The local residents have disagreed with this assertion by staff telling The Echo that, ‘while discharges into Christies Creek are reported by TSC as “rare”, there is no simple mechanical verification in place to confirm this. The most recent, November 30, 2024 event caused a massive flood of sewage into the Cudgen Nature Reserve, canals encircling North Star Caravan Park, Christies Creek and Hastings Estuary. Locals know not to swim in these contaminated waters, but tourists remain in the dark as no signage is posted following such events.
‘While TSC claims that the existing plant produces effluent to “a standard suitable for reuse as irrigation”, fortnightly testing shows highly variable results, and that standards as set by the EPA are increasingly exceeded. We are left to guess how such licensing breaches impact public health,’ they stated.
‘Council maintains that through the “dune infiltration system… this system is sustainable for the release of treated effluent, provided the effluent is consistently high quality”. Yet, Council’s own testing program proves that the existing system fails to provide “effluent of a consistently high standard”.
‘Are we willing to gamble ratepayers’ $20+million that replicating the existing failing system will make it better? Instead, why not get it right from the start? Design and construct a sustainable plant upgrade that uses the best of modern technology so that it remains fit for purpose for the next 30 years or more.’
Find out more and attend the council meeting
Tweed Shire Councillors will be debating the issues from 3.30pm today. Community access will take place prior to the meeting commencement but can only be viewed if attending the chamber in person at the Tweed Heads Administration Office, 21 Brett Street, Tweed Heads.
The TSC meeting can be accessed online at: https://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors-meetings/council-meetings.
Details of the five performance upgrade options, including FAQ and supporting reports, are available at yoursaytweed.com.au/hastings-point-plant-upgrade.
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