selby/belgrave sewerage backlog back on

It's great news to hear that construction works have resumed this month on a new reticulated sewerage system for Belgrave and Selby.

Locals will notice work crews in the area as part of the $20 million project aimed at protecting public health and the environment from the risks associated with poorly maintained septic tanks.

South East Water report they are continuing sewerage backlog works in Belgrave and Selby and hope to have the reticulated system completed within the next six to eight months. They also expect to be in a position to undertake individual property connections from early 2014.

This project will see 700 households in Belgrave and Selby connected to reticulated sewerage which is a great outcome for the local environment.

As with the Belgrave South project South East Water will hold a community information session  speak with residents and businesses about how they can connect to the new system once the connections schedule is confirmed.

South East Water has been in close communications with council over the works to ensure there's minimal construction impacts. I was impressed by their performance as part of the Belgrave South project, South East Water did not remove one single tree as part of the project and are committed to ensuring minimal environmental impacts.

So far the community is very positive about the works. There’s been a recognition of the problem of failing septic systems for a long time and, in an area which values the environment, locals are keenly aware and supportive of the environmental benefits of a sewer connection.

The environmental impacts of failing septic tanks they are immense. Polluting ground and surface water, creating native vegetation dieback and an influx of weeds, not to mention E Coli being released into our streets during storm events from septic tanks.

I'm delighted to see the works re-commence. The construction of a reticulated sewerage system in Belgrave and Selby has immense benefits for the environment and our local waterways.

If you're in the project area and would like to know more you can contact South East Water on 1800 055 465 or visit southeastwater.com.au for more info.

samantha in the press

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by Tim Michell
3 Sep 2013

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Lilydale Leader
by Emily Webb
3 Sep 2013

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Free Press Leader
4 Sep 2013

 

Up in smoke

Mountain Views Mail

by Melissa Meehan

3 Sep 2013

 

samantha in the press

Greater Dandenong commuters asked to share public transport stories on social media
Dandenong Leader
by Tim Michell and Julian Kennedy
26 Aug 2013          

Rowville Rail to be considered as part of state Labor's transport policy
Waverley Leader
by Tim Michell
24 Aug 2013

Sewerage plan set to resume
Mail Newspapers
27 Aug 2013

samantha in the press

PSOs finally protecting commuters at Upwey train station
by Tom Minear
Free Press Leader
8 May 2013

State Budget a mixed bag for south-east
by Daniel Tran and Cameron Lucadou-Wells
Knox Weekly
7 May 2013

Eastern Transport Coalition calls for better bus services to be funded in State Budget
by Tim Michell
Waverly Leader
6 May 2013

Councillors split on land break-up vote
by Melissa Meehan
Mail Newspapers
7 May 2013

 

Selby's stinker

by Emma Sun

Mail Newspapers

7 May 2013

 

 

 



samantha in the press

Some Belgrave and Selby residents could be waiting until 2018 to be connected to sewer network
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
13 Mar 2013

State Government accused of finding excuses to delay Rowville Rail Link after report release
by Laura Armitage and Tim Michell
Knox Leader
12 Mar 2013

No Monash Uni train station for at least a decade
by Daniel Tran
Monash Weekly
11 Mar 2013

“More buses” needed during Rowville Rail wait
by Matthew Crawford
The Next Station
10 Mar 2013

samantha in the press

all systems go for sewer in belgrave south and heights

report from the roundtable – 8 jun

Council had to consider an application to remove 157 trees and 3 patches of native vegetation to construct reticulated sewerage throughout Belgrave South and Heights.

There was no doubt that it was a complex application, when considering the matter both the range of flora and fauna affected as well as the challenging terrain made the application a difficult one.

South East Water (the applicants) had to apply to remove vegetation on a 'worst case scenario' as many of the construction techniques they will be using will try to avoid removing as many trees as possible. But those who know the area will know about the rocks that float below the surface, which always provide challenges for anyone trying to dig or tunnel.

I have been on site visits to discuss vegetation removal and construction of the sewerage lines. I have also attended the two community consultation sessions run by South East Water (SEWL). I was satisfied that SEWL will do everything they can to retain as many trees as possible. I also look forward to any vegetation offsets required from any vegetation removal being retained in the local region.

When we consider the environmental impacts of failing septic tanks they are immense. Polluting ground and surface water, creating native vegetation dieback and an influx of weeds, not to mention E Coli being released into our streets during storm events from septic tanks.

I think one of the stand out things for me with this application is that in an area that values its environment we didn't have a single objector to the application because the community can see the immense benefits to going to a reticulated sewerage system.

I was happy to move the motion, the reticulated sewerage would give over 800 households in Belgrave Heights and South the opportunity to connect and would have significant benefits to our environment and local waterways. There are far many more gains with this one than losses.

sewerage for belgrave south & heights gets closer

Today I went a community meeting held by South East Water, to discuss the implementation of the Sewerage Backlog Program which will see 730 households in Belgrave South have the capacity to connect to the sewer.

The meeting was well attended by the community with over 200 people crowded into the Progress Hall.

Recognition of failing septic tanks and their contamination of our environment and waterways has seen the project brought forward in the backlog program.

The project will see 18,000 metres of pipe laid and will take 12 months to complete. The works will be undertaken in stages with residents given the opportunity to connect as soon as they can, although they have up to 12 months to connect.

The project will consist mainly of drilling with only some open cut work, the intention of South East Water is to minimise environmental damage by using these construction techniques. A large percentage of the pipe used in the project will be only 63mm in diameter with pipework for those on pressure systems measuring 125mm.

The project is seeking a planning permit and is currently being assessed by the Shire. It is a complex application and will take some time for officers to assess. It will come to council for a final decision given the extent of the project.

If you would like to more about the project call the South East Water Community Liaison Officer on 1800 055 465 or email belgraveheights@sewl.com.au.

belgrave south & heights sewerage gets closer

Today I went along to the community consultations about the proposed sewerage program for Belgrave South and Heights being held by South East Water.

The project has been brought forward on the sewerage backlog program because of the significant environmental benefits it will deliver to waterways and the environment in the region. The sewer system being proposed is called a hybrid system. Most of the system will be pumped under pressure and directed towards Zigzag Road, where it will then become a gravity flow system down to the valley to the existing sewer at Birdsland.

From left to right: Cr Samantha Dunn – Lyster Ward councillor, Gordon Burr – Project Manager Pressure Systems South East Water and Barbara Ferry-Smith Manager Customer Relations South East Water.

Engineers for the project advise that they plan to install most of the pipes by directional boring, rather than open cut trenching as this helps avoid impact on vegetation, however boring could be challenging given the amount of rocky terrain in the region.

South East Water will take core samples every three to five hundred metres to try to ascertain what techniques they will need to use to install the system. I have been told that approximately 30 trees will require removal as part of the project, however I’ve yet to see details about what trees and where. The sewerage project will need to come to council for planning approval.

On day one of the weekend consultation over 200 community members attended to find out more about the program. Residents were very positive about the program, many not believing they would ever see sewerage come to Belgrave South. I congratulate South East Water for their efforts in getting the message out there to community members.