HOBSONS Bay City Council has asked City West Water to help stop pollution by connecting sewerage to an industrial estate in Williamstown.
The Williamstown North Industrial Estate, south of Kororoit Creek Rd between Racecourse Rd and Ponting St, has caused on-going concern to council and residents with sewage and waste water discharging into the Kororoit Creek.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has written to City West Water supporting the request for a sewer connection but water bosses say nothing can be done to fix the problem until 2008.
A recent council survey of the estate identified numerous properties not connected to the sewer system and which use portable toilets or septic tanks.
A summary environmental report, produced by the council, found that 21 of the 37 sites on the estate failed to meet health standards.
Water samples taken at various sites on the estate revealed high readings for suspended solids, biological oxygen demand and enterococci, all of which can indicate sewage contamination and damage to the environment.
Samples from three sites revealed enterococci levels of 550, 1400 and 14000 organisms per 100ml of water.
World Health Organisation standards indicated that a count of more than 500 enterococci per 100ml of water represented a health risk.
Craig Bruckner, manager of health and regulatory services with Hobsons Bay City Council said the estate “was never sewered because sewerage wasn’t available in the area”.
From Page 1.
Mr Bruckner said a new developer had paid to extend the main sewerage line into the estate, making connecting properties to the line cheaper and more achievable.
“We recently met with City West Water and they have confirmed that the proposed works would be included in their draft plan for the coming year,” he said.
City West Water managing director Anne Barker released a statement confirming the council request for the sewer connection.
“City West Water has discussed with Hobsons Bay Council the sewering of the Williamstown industrial Estate, and has included plans to build a pressure sewerage system on this estate in its next water plan beginning 2008/2009,” Ms Barker said.
Mr Bruckner said in some cases, car parks and driveways had been built over septic tanks, further complicating the issue.
“We want to get the whole estate connected to the sewer. That would solve all our issues.”
Mr Bruckner said there were six land holders opposed to having the sewer connected.
“They had a low-grade use of the site. They weren’t intending to upgrade or sell the site.”
Geoff Mitchelmore, president of Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek, said it was vital that something was done to address the sewage problem on the estate.
“It’s a pretty poor situation that grey water and sewage is ending up in the creek. It’s been going on for too long.
“Because it was low-lying, they took the easy option and didn’t sewer it.”
“Any of the stuff that goes into the septic tanks ends up in the creek and in the bay.”
Mr Mitchelmore said it was imperative that all land holders on the estate agreed to be connected to the sewer.
“I’m disturbed that not all of the land owners are going ahead with the sewer. It’s about time they all took the responsible decision and had the sewer put in,” he said.
