New sewer would service refreshment rooms

The refreshment rooms recently approved at the Empire Bay service station would be connected to the new Cockle Bay Towns Sewerage Scheme if it proceeds.

Responding to a question from Cr Peter Freewater, Gosford Council's director water and sewer Mr Rod Williams said the proposed restaurant at Empire Bay Dr associated with the service station was located within the proposed service area of the Cockle Bay Towns Scheme.

The property was connected to the sewerage reticulation scheme at the time of development application for the service station and the developer paid the necessary charges and costs at that time.

However, Mr Williams said that discharge from this development would be redirected into the new reticulation under the Cockle Bay Towns Scheme in the event of Council proceeding with the scheme.

Cr Freewater had asked whether the fast food restaurant cluster on Empire Bay Dr would take priority over existing residents for access to the sewer.

Residents of Empire Bay, the pre-school and the caravan park currently did not have access to Council's sewer service, he said.

Mr Williams said Council has completed a Strategic Options Study to service that area and undertook community consultation throughout October on the outcomes of this study and the results were expected to be reported to the Council meeting of Tuesday, December 6.

Council had responded to previous community feedback by increasing the proposed service area from 126 to 316.

Council was also continuing to work with the State Government to secure the best funding outcomes for the affected property owners, he said.

Gosford Council Agenda COR.123, 1 Nov 2011