May 19, 2018

Delivering safe septic systems for blackwood community

The Andrews Labor Government will invest a further $500,000 into the Blackwood Localised Septic Program to complete all failed systems in the area.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the funding at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Blackwood Hotel.

This project means that the community will have safer septic systems that don’t leak into the local environment.

This funding is in addition to the $2.6 million already invested to upgrade septic tank systems that failed a Moorabool Shire Council septic tank audit.

The extra support will allow properties that have failed audits by council and the program in the Blackwood area to receive assistance to upgrade their currently failing septic tank systems.

To date the project has already repaired and replaced 56 failing septic tank systems on residential and community properties, with a further 17 earmarked for replacement by the end June 2018. This also includes a planned upgrade to the systems at the Blackwood Mineral Springs and Caravan Park.

It has also given the local community an important insight into the merits of best practice wastewater management, with homeowners able to liaise directly with industry experts on ways to treat, re-use and dispose of wastewater.

Ms Thomas said planning would be undertaken later this year to develop a strategy for how the additional funding will be used, with the Blackwood Localised Septic Program governance committee, comprised of Moorabool Shire Council, local water authorities and State Government agencies, to play a key role in the development of the plan.

The Blackwood Localised Septic Program was a key election commitment made in 2014.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"We’re getting on with our election commitment of delivering a sustainable solution for Blackwood’s wastewater issues."

"This program is providing a low-cost and effective outcome for properties and we’ll see the benefits of stopping septic systems from leaking into our local environment."

"Blackwood deserves to be supported by reliable, up-to-date septic tank systems and this additional funding will allow us to upgrade more properties requiring attention."

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