By Derek Schlennstedt
Yarra Valley Water is planning to implement a modern sewerage service for the Monbulk area, as part of the community sewerage program.
About 160 properties in Monbulk town centre are connected to the Monbulk Sewage Treatment Plant, with many other properties instead managing their own wastewater via on-site treatment systems, such as septic tanks.
The program to provide better sewerage services comes after Yarra Ranges Shire Council’s Domestic Wastewater Management Plan identified that poorly performing septic systems were damaging the local environment.
Yarra Valley Water said that leaking septic tanks in the Monbulk area were discharging nutrients into the environment that were the equivalent of dumping over 1200 bags of fertiliser directly into waterways each year.
Chris Brace, general manager growth futures, said delivering new sewerage services to Monbulk was a challenge due to the area’s hilly nature and its distance from Melbourne’s existing sewerage network, but community feedback had been invaluable.
“Through regularly consulting with the community, we have been able to gather as much information as possible to find a solution which works for Monbulk,” Mr Brace said.
“During earlier small group consultations, the community said they would only like to see a couple of preferred options, instead of several which could be confusing.
“Considering this feedback, we are presenting two sewerage servicing solutions during this next phase of consultation.”
Of the two options, the first option involves Yarra Valley Water providing an upgraded septic system to properties that are not capable of containing wastewater on-site and new pipes in local streets will be built to collect any excess treated wastewater, which will be kept in the local area where it will be further treated and used for irrigation on local parks and reserves.
The second option is based on a pressure sewer system which involves building new pipes in local streets and connecting properties that are not capable of containing wastewater on-site to Melbourne’s metropolitan sewerage network.
Yarra Valley Water will be providing a sewerage service to about 80 per cent of the 836 properties, with septic tanks that they assessed through Land Capability Assessments, which consider a property’s size, available land area for irrigation, slope, and closeness to local waterways.
Only properties that are incapable of containing their own wastewater on-site will be affected.
Yarra Valley Water will hold a consultation meeting at Monbulk Living and Learning Centre on 25 July from 5pm to 7pm.
Alternatively, residents can make a submission about which option they would prefer at www.yoursay.yvw.com.au/MonbulkCSP.
