Nelligen Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme
Project: Provide a reticulated pressure sewerage scheme and water supply to 160 village properties.
Funding: NSW Government is providing $3.5 million through the Safe and Secure Water Program. Council will contribute the remaining required funds.
Timeframe:
- 2020-21: Design work
- 2023: Construct water reservoirs
- 2023-24: Construct pumping stations and mains
- 2023-24: Construct water mains and sewerage reticulation within the village
- 2023-24: Install pressure sewer systems on properties
- Late 2024: Schemes operational
Last updated: September 2023
Details
We are working to: provide a water supply and sewage scheme to service individual properties in Nelligen.
Benefits to the community:
- The Nelligen community currently rely on tank water either collected on-site or delivered by truck. Many properties cannot collect and store sufficient rainwater. The new infrastructure will transfer potable water from Batemans Bay to each property. This will ensure an ongoing supply.
- The new sewerage scheme will collect sewage from individual properties and pump it to the Batemans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant. This will replace on-site sewage management systems (such as septic tanks and envirocycles). Many Nelligen properties don't have suitable space or soil for on-site sewage disposal. This leads to increased pump-outs and system failures.
The new systems will link into existing water and sewer infrastructure in Batemans Bay.
Council’s long-term water and sewer strategic plan includes this project:
We will install a pump station and pipeline to transfer water from Batemans Bay to a new water supply reservoir - large concrete storage tank - on Clyde Road, North Batemans Bay. From here, the water will gravity fed to another new reservoir, this one to be built on Old Nelligen Road, Nelligen. We have designed these reservoirs to ensure there is adequate supply for firefighting purposes, even during times of peak holiday demand.
From here, the water will gravity-feed to individual properties in the Nelligen village. Our part of the work will finish at the water meter and connection point installed just inside the boundary of each property.
Property owners may keep their rainwater tanks as either a primary or supplementary water supply, in accordance with appropriate plumbing regulations.
Costs
- Property owners will be responsible for connecting household plumbing to the new infrastructure
- Once the water supply is available, property owners will incur the standard fee, currently $375 per year (2023-24 financial year)
- Water usage will be charged at the standard rate, currently $4 per 1,000 litres (2023-24 financial year).
A reticulated system will be installed throughout the village to collect sewage from individual properties. A new pumping station and rising main will transfer the waste to the Batemans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant.
The new system will replace existing on-site sewage management systems, such as septic tanks and pump outs, and will reduce the risk of harm to the environment and public health.
A pump unit will be installed below ground on each property to collect and pump sewage to the street mains via a new pipe and a boundary kit. The pump unit is approximately 1m in diameter and 2m deep.
In comparison to a traditional gravity-fed system, a pressure sewerage system has lower installation costs and reduced environmental and social impacts. The small diameter pipes can be installed at a shallow depth requiring minimal site disturbance. Pipes can be installed using horizontal drilling technology, avoiding deep excavations throughout the village.
The system allows for power failure with approximately 24 hours of storage. Our on-call sewer operators will be available at all times to attend to any issues.
Ownership and maintenance of the sewerage infrastructure from the pump unit to the street mains will remain Council’s responsibility.
- Find out more about Pressure sewerage systems.
On properties where an on-site sewage management system currently exists, we will:
- install a sewage pump unit, pump, pump control panel, discharge pipe and boundary kit
- connect household waste to the pump unit
- provide an electrical connection to the pump and any electrical capacity upgrades required (provided the existing electrical works comply with current standards).
Costs
Property owners will need to engage suitable contractors to:
- rectify any plumbing that does not conform to current standards
- rectify relevant electrical works that do not conform to current standards
- decommission on-site sewage management systems following NSW Health Advisory note 3.
Once the scheme is operating, the following costs to property owners will be ongoing:
- the standard sewer rate, currently $1080 annually (2023-24 financial year)
- electrical running costs, approximately $50 per year.
Vacant property lots and houses under construction without an on-site sewage management system will have a connection point (boundary kit) installed only.
Future development applicants (for new dwellings) will need to liaise with our Water and Sewer team to arrange installation of a new pressure sewerage system. The standard fee is $13,038 (2023-24 financial year) for the installation.
To help transfer sewage from Nelligen to the Batemans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant we will build a pumping station on Council-owned land in Bridge View Road. It has been designed to minimise impact on amenity for residents and visitors and will be largely screened from view by existing vegetation.
The station includes a 100kL concrete tank (3m tall) and a single storey brick building (approximately 90m²). All mechanical and electrical equipment will be housed within this building. Odours from the station will be minimised thanks to an odour control system.
We engaged NSW Public Works to assess the potential impacts that may result from activities associated with the project. They prepared a Review of Environmental Factors for the following:
Updates
June 2023
- Leed Engineering and Construction is starting on construction of the sewage pump station and water and sewer pipelines this month.
May 2023
- We have awarded the contract to install the pipelines and build the pump stations to Leed Engineering and Construction.
January 2023
- Leed Engineering and Construction started building two concrete water reservoirs located in North Batemans Bay and in Nelligen. Work will be underway until September 2023.
November 2022
- Further environmental assessments and reviews of the project took place to work out the best possible path for the new infrastructure. We changed the alignment of water and sewer pipelines running from Batemans Bay to Nelligen to minimise impacts to the local environment.
- We have awarded the tender for construction of the two water reservoirs. Leed Engineering and Construction will build the large concrete tanks; one in North Batemans Bay and the other in Nelligen.
- Late this month we will advertise the tenders for construction of the water and sewer pump stations and mains.
January 2021
- We are hosting a community drop-in session at the Mechanics Institute of Nelligen to provide information about the upcoming provision of water and sewerage services.
- Everyone is welcome to come along to discuss the project design, construction and operation. Components of the new pressure sewer infrastructure will be on display.
- It's on Thursday 21 January 2021, drop in anytime between 3pm and 6pm.
July 2020
- The new water pipe and sewer pipe have been installed beneath the Clyde River to service the village of Nelligen.
- A tunnel was drilled beneath the river and lengths of poly pipe were welded together to create one pipe.
- The long pipe was then pulled through the hole with a huge drill rig.
March 2020
- As a safety precaution to limit public gatherings and slow the spread of coronavirus, we have cancelled the community drop-in session for now.
- When it is safe to do so we will reschedule the event and notify property owners.
- PS Solutions have also postponed their meetings with individual property owners in May.
January 2020
- The community drop-in session has be rescheduled due to the bushfire emergency.
- Come along on the new date, Thursday 23 January, anytime between 3pm and 7pm to the Mechanics Institute, Nelligen. Note: Postponed due to bushfires.
- Additionally, PS Solutions will be in the village from Thursday 23 January to Monday 3 February to meet with individual property owners.
- Phone 1800 178 978 to make an appointment to discuss and prepare a plan for the location of the pressure sewer equipment and water meter on your property.
December 2019
- Nelligen folk are invited to a community drop-in session to find out more about the water supply and sewerage scheme to be rolled out through the village.
- Come along and chat with our friendly staff to discuss the project design, construction and operation.
- We will have the components of the new pressure sewer infrastructure on display so you can see what will be installed on your property.
- See you at the Nelligen Mechanics Institute on Friday 10 January, anytime between 3pm to 7pm. Note: Postponed due to bushfires.
November 2019
- Landmark Surveys have been engaged to undertake cadastral and engineering surveys throughout the village between November 2019 and February 2020.
- The data is required to develop accurate plans to ensure the new water and sewer components will be installed within property boundaries.
More info
For further details about the project contact our Water and Sewer Engineer, Billy Alves:
- T: 02 4474 1000
- E: Council
