Wastewater solution expected soon but not as part of streetscape

OWNER of The Cavity in Venus Bay Jordan Meikle questioned why South Gippsland Shire Council elected to undertake streetscape works in Jupiter Boulevard before the town’s sewerage issues were addressed.

That follows the catastrophic failure of the sewerage system servicing the five-shop complex in which the business is located.

Last December, councillors received the ‘Venus Bay Community Services Sewerage Feasibility’ report outlining possible sewerage solutions for the town, voting to note its findings and advocate to the State Government for funding of a suitable sewerage system to be implemented by South Gippsland Water.

Specifically, that system would service commercial and community uses within the Venus Bay Tourism Precinct Plan area.

The report notes the potential for a low bore pressure sewer system, which can be bored or drilled, saying that approach has been implemented in similar conditions on the Mornington Peninsula. 

“Assuming the timing is suitable, these works can be aligned with the proposed council streetscape works and the Surf Life Saving Club upgrades to minimise disruptions to traffic and the community,” the report states.

Jordan questioned why streetscape works are now being carried out without installing any pipes to help rectify the wastewater issues in Venus Bay’s Business District.

South Gippsland Shire Council CEO Kerryn Ellis responded to that query when asked by the Sentinel-Times.

“The timing was not suitable for aligning the sewerage works with council’s streetscape works,” Kerryn said.

“Although council is supportive of and is advocating for a sewerage system for the Venus Bay commercial precinct, there is recognition that the initiative is costly, would likely require significant financial investment from landowners and is not part of South Gippsland Water’s five-year strategic plan.”

She added that while a combined project would be ideal, with the sewerage initiative unfunded it would have prevented the streetscape from proceeding for an unknown period.

“It is council’s expectation that the streetscape works will not significantly inhibit any future sewerage system from proceeding,” Kerryn said.

She noted council has advocated for a wastewater solution in Venus Bay during discussions with State Government representatives and that council’s executive team meets with South Gippsland

Water’s executive team on a quarterly basis with the desired sewerage project a standing agenda item.

In relation to the building housing The Cavity, Kerryn said council has received an application for the installation of a new sewerage system and it is expected works will be able to begin shortly.