$2M for Mandurah sewerage connections

19/4/94

More than $2 million will be spent in Mandurah in 1994-95 to connect unsewered properties to deep sewerage.

Speaking in Mandurah today, Water Resources Minister Paul Omodei said 120 houses in Furnissdale and 130 houses in North Yunderup would be provided with deep sewerage by works undertaken in year one of the Government's new Infill Sewerage Program.

The Minister's comments follow Premier Richard Court's announcement that the State Government will proceed with the most comprehensive sewerage construction program ever undertaken in Western Australia

Costing about $800 million over 10 years and providing up to 1,500 new jobs across the State, the Infill Sewerage Program is one of the biggest construction projects in the State's history and one of the biggest projects of its kind in Australia.

Mr Omodei said the program - to start in July - would be funded by the Water Authority of Western Australia.

The Minister said he had come to Mandurah personally to assure residents their interests were not being overshadowed by problems experienced in the Perth metropolitan area.

"Our aim is to eliminate health and environmental risks posed by septic tank systems across the State and I hope it will also assist in the orderly development and redevelopment of many properties in Mandurah," Mr Omodei said.

"Contrary to recent speculation there will NOT be a levy, or a service contribution fee to fund the program."

The program would be funded from the Water Authority's Capital Replacement Account, which is a fund prudently set aside by the Authority to replace its substantial assets as they age and limited borrowings which can be serviced by the Water Authority.  As the assets are relatively young it was possible to use these funds now and over the next 10 years.

In the first four years the annual allocations to the Infill Sewerage Program would be $65 million, $70 million, $75 million and $80 million.

Mr Omodei said Mandurah and the South-West region would get a significant share of the money allocated to the program.

In year one, starting in July, almost $4.5 million would be spent on infill sewerage in the region.  About 60 per cent of homes in Mandurah were unsewered.

Mr Omodei said existing sewerage projects undertaken by the Authority in consultation with local government and progress associations would be continued and speeded up so that by 2005 virtually all of Mandurah would be equipped with a modern sewerage system.

Areas most in need of attention like Furnissdale, North Yunderup, Ravenswood, Riverside Gardens and Wannanup would receive priority.

In year one, about 120 lots in Furnissdale would be sewered at a cost of around $1 million, and 130 lots in North Yunderup for a cost of more than $1.2 million.

"Too many septic tank systems are failing and are contributing to environmental and health problems.  They are also costly for residents forced to have them cleaned out regularly, especially in areas with a high water table and clay soils," Mr Omodei said.

"The State has to protect its groundwater supplies and avoid public health risks, as well as pollution to rivers and wetlands.

"First priority will be properties which are on soils with poor absorption capacity or a high water table."

The Minister said the normal private plumbing cost would apply for individual households to connect to deep sewerage.  This was generally between $1,000 and $2,000.  It was not a new charge.

Property-owners unable to arrange their own finance had the option of arranging a 10-year loan with the Water Authority at Commonwealth Savings Bank home loan interest rates current at the time of the loan.  Eligible pensioners could defer connection costs by paying only the interest until such time as they ceased to be pensioners or ceased to own their property.

Media contact:  Amanda O'Brien (09) 222 9595