Little support for water and sewerage

Gosford Council Water and Sewer director Mr Rod Williams has recommended that a reticulated sewer and water not be delivered to Patonga Creek properties due to a lack of community support.

Mr Williams also recommended that council staff inspect each on-site system within a three year timeframe to identify and direct any improvements that may be required.

The issue will, however, be up for discussion by councillors at the Gosford Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, August 7.

The inclusion of a reticulated water supply was investigated in response to the interest expressed by almost 50 per cent of respondents to the October 2011 survey, or 35 per cent of all property owners.

The survey undertaken in July revealed that 15 of the total 49 property owners (31 per cent) indicated support for the inclusion of a water supply, and 12 owners (24 per cent) indicated opposition to it.

Nine owners (18 per cent) indicated support for paying the estimated contribution charge of around $20,000 while 17 owners (35 per cent) indicated opposition to it.

Mr Williams said in his report that the level of support for a community driven and optional service was not considered sufficient to warrant the imposition of additional costs on the community through delivery of a reticulated water supply as part of a sewerage scheme.

The October 2011 survey results revealed that of the 17 respondents that expressed a desire for a reticulated water supply, 10 respondents indicated they did not support a sewerage system without the inclusion of water supply.

If the October 2011 survey response from these 10 respondents was recorded as "oppose the delivery of improved sewer services", then support for the sewerage scheme would reduce from 54 per cent to 37 per cent of respondents, or 13 owners (27 per cent of the community).

Mr Williams said this finding reduced the level of community support for a sewerage scheme to a level lower than considered appropriate for the delivery of improved sewerage services to Patonga Creek.

Thirty per cent of respondents said they were concerned about costs while 22 per cent did not believe sewerage was needed and 19 per cent said they did not believe a reticulated water supply was needed.

Gosford Council Agenda WAT.27, 7 Aug 2012