Thank you to the Byron Shire elected Council for not endorsing Water & Recycling’s (W&R) recommendation for an irresponsible large expenditure for the transfer of sewage from Oceans Shores STP (OSSTP) to Brunswick Valley STP (BVSTP).
Councillor Ndiaye, a member and Chair of the Water, Waste & Sewer Advisory Committee (WWSAC) showed in her questions that she is across the issues put forward in the committee’s recommendation.
One of the main concerns from the committee is a ten million dollar expenditure pipeline from OSSTP to BVSTP into a thirty megalitre balance pond. This will be designed to hold raw sewage during rain events when the inflow exceeds a certain volume, raising the question as to why this is needed.
It is obvious the director of infrastructure is looking for a centralised treatment, but they cannot keep ignoring the inflow/infiltration (I/I) issue in Mullumbimby. This issue has been raised for over thirty years now.
I considered there was too much emphasis placed on getting the clause 45 moratorium lifted in Mullumbimby inclusive of building BVSTP.
The then director of W&R spent years focussing on this change rather than ensuring that W&R was being managed effectively. The numerous restructures undertaken weakened the ability of W&R staff to maintain infrastructure.
I believe, if the I/I issue was removed, that the original Mullumbimby Trickling Filter Plant would have lasted another fifty years with interim upgrades being applied, as should have been happening at Ocean Shores STP in the previous years.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
