Patonga sewerage report expected

A sewerage scheme for residents of Patonga Creek is expected to be presented to Gosford Council this week.

The Council deferred a proposal at its last meeting for a community forum on the scheme until the report was presented to the council this week.

Cr Peter Freewater had recommended the forum to provide an expert explanation of the sewer options with the opportunity for questions and answers.

He also recommended that a full survey be carried out after the community had been fully and properly informed and had adequate time to consider the benefits and disadvantages of each option.

"Due to the delicate environmental position of Patonga Creek the residents would like the best solution that will protect the environment, reduce the chance of seepage, minimise the chance of failure and spillage and supply the best system," said Cr Freewater in his report to Council.

"To date there has only been one onsite meeting (at Patonga Hall).

"All other communication has been via phone calls or emails.

"Residents have not had the opportunity to discuss details, concerns or issues with any engineer with full knowledge of the systems on offer.

"This is too serious a matter with too many environmental implications to simply rely on a majority decision of a very small and inadequately informed community," he said.

Email, 13 Jul 2012

Peter Freewater, Gosford Council