Contract awarded for sewerage connection services in Margaret River

28/11/96

More than 160 households in Margaret River will be able to connect to sewerage services next year.

Water Resources Minister Roger Nicholls announced today that the Water Corporation had let a $1.1 million contract to the South-West firm, Ideal Contractors WA Pty Ltd, to carry out the work.

Preliminary work would begin before Christmas and the project would be completed before the start of next summer.

Mr Nicholls said the contract was part of the State Government's $800 million Infill Sewerage Program.

Parts of Margaret River were already sewered, but many residents still relied on septic tanks.

"Margaret River has been given priority in the 10-year program because the soil conditions - rocks and clay - are unsuitable for septic tanks," Mr Nicholls said.

"In time, nutrients would leach from these septic tanks into the Margaret River and ultimately damage it. It is this degradation we want to avoid to ensure that the town is not affected."

By connecting to the sewer as soon as it was available, the community would assist in removing these health and environmental hazards and at the same time benefit from a domestic waste disposal system that was virtually maintenance free for the householder.

Under the $1.1 million contract, five kilometres of sewer would be laid in an area bounded by Forrest Road, Townview Terrace, and the Margaret River. The pump station would be located near the river at the end of Forrest Road.

Mr Nicholls said that tenders which had been let, or were about to be let, in Bunbury, Busselton, Manjimup and Mandurah totalled about $5.1 million, bringing the total price tag of imminent sewerage works in the South-West to more than $6.2 million.

"It is a commitment we have to South-West residents to ensure they have access to services which will ultimately keep their environment clean and halt the leaching of nutrients into streams, lakes, rivers and ponds," he said.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 322 6529