Domestic Wastewater
The Domestic Wastewater Management (septic systems of all types), identifies the newer requirement for a Domestic Wastewater Management Plan to be developed.
The Plan considers the need to continually record data relating to individual system maintenance and reporting requirements. It also discusses respose where timely information is not received and where intervention by Council is warranted.
Over the past 12 months Council has been working with other municipalities, predominantly within NE Victoria, where a consultant has been engaged to develop the Plan following a Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) guideline template.
A regional review of septic system fees and charges was undertaken, and those results influenced Council's adopted Fees and Charges schedule.
The Plan comprises:
Part 1 - capturing the ‘Regional Context and Strategy’ which provides a background to the project; and
Part 2 - the local component which identifies:
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existing corporate policy and direction.
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profiles the Municipality and it’s septic systems.
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identifies environmental values.
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public health and environmental threats and risk assessments.
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details a draft management approach and identifies priorities.
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establishes action plans for the local area and those proposed to be undertaken at the regional level.
The Plan also identifies a related project which dealt with identifying ‘Priority towns’ where ongoing on-site containment of wastewater was not possible leading to potential public health or environmental threats. Earlier surveys were undertaken within townships not provided with reticulated sewer in an effort to scope the need and capacity for onsite improvement works to be undertaken and the sites ability to comply with the current EPA
Codes of practice (on-site containment of sullage, etc...)
Part 3 - contains policies relating to standard permit conditions and the development of policy for non-compliance and standardise operational procedures.