Too Little Too Late

AT 6:26pm Council provided a media release on the closure of the local septic treatment system.

Unfortunately the questions submitted to Council were not addressed in the media release and no new information was provided.

However, the position of Council seems to have softened, as they are no longer referring to a “closure”, rather an “interruption of services”.

“Upper Hunter Shire Council advises that the Scone septic waste facility at the Scone Sewerage Treatment Plant has been closed as a precautionary measure.

“Council General Manager Waid Crockett said the closure was unavoidable while problems with the old septic waste facility are addressed.

“The septic waste facility is an unlined pond, also known as a night soil pit, that has been used for many decades.

“The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has directed the facility be closed because there could be a potential risk of contamination to ground water.

“During a regular licensing inspection of the site in November 2015 the EPA Inspector requested Council stop using the septic waste disposal pond as it was constructed without a liner.”

The Environmental Protection Authority confirmed earlier this week to scone.com.au that an inspection had actually occurred in September and they had raised their concerns about the contamination then.

The statement continued:

“Council staff agreed to close the facility and commission an Environmental Site Assessment.

“Independent experts RCA Australia were engaged in November 2015 to undertake an Environmental Site Assessment of soil and ground water quality adjacent to the pond.

“The draft Environmental Site Assessment report was received by Council in February 2016 and reviewed by Council staff.

“The results were inconclusive and ground and water tests surrounding the waste facility are continuing.”

scone.com.au has previously requested a copy of the report by the environmental assessors.

“Council continues to work with EPA towards reinstating a septic waste facility somewhere in the Upper Hunter and to ensuring the Scone Sewerage Treatment Plant remains sustainable well into the future.”

The letter provided to septic service contractors on February 2 stated that: “the disposal of septic waste will no longer be available in the Upper Hunter Shire Local Government area, now or in the future.”

The latest statement by Council seems to indicate the septic waste facility may be reinstated and further clarification on this matter has been requested.

“Council is also negotiating with neighbouring Councils for use of their septic waste facilities in the interim.”

The Council has previously negotiated with Gunnedah, Tamworth, Quirindi and Mudgee to accept waste from the Upper Hunter Shire Council, but their requests were declined.

“The four septic pump out contractors that had agreements in place with Council to use the facility, have been informed of the closure.

“Council apologises for this interruption to the availability of septic waste disposal facilities in the Upper Hunter Shire.”

While none of the questions posed to Council on Wednesday have been answered in the release and the information provided by Council is what other sources have already provided, scone.com.au have again requested answers.