Septic Spills Over Again

ABERDEEN waste facility will only be able to accept 5,000 litres of septic waste a day, creating yet another septic backflow for the Shire.

On Tuesday at the Council’s works and technical services committee meeting, it was resolved that septic waste could be deposited at Aberdeen’s facility commencing Friday following the closure of the Scone septic pit last month, however the restrictions were not discussed.

Mr Eddie Bridge, owner of Scone Septic Services said he left Tuesday’s meeting feeling relieved that a solution had been found, but is now angry Council were not honest about Aberdeen’s capacity for accepting waste from throughout the Shire.

“It’s going to mean that sometimes there will be people in the Shire left with full to overflowing septics, because we can only deposit 5,000 litres a day total between all of the contractors,” said Mr Bridge.

“I phoned the Council today to organise things for Friday, when they told me Aberdeen can only take 5,000 litres maximum each day, which is just ridiculous,” he said.

“Just one enviro tank is 8,000 litres, so they suggested we empty half the tank one day and then come back the following day to empty the rest of it,” he said.

“But it also means that the 5,000 litre limit has to be shared between all contractors, so they want us to book in for what day we will be allowed to take in waste.

“Some contractors have tanks that are 10,000 litres, but they will only be allowed to empty half of it.

“So if we have a few tanks from around the Shire that need emptying at the same time we won’t be able to do it.

“Or take places like Glenbawn Dam that has large capacity it will take us days to be able to empty it and in the meantime residents won’t be able to dispose of their septic.

“When I asked why they didn’t raise this problem in the meeting on Tuesday I was told, ‘because we weren’t asked that specific question’,” he said in exasperation.

“These idiots couldn’t organise a chook raffle!” Eddie Bridge said.

During Tuesday’s meeting the issue of capacity was raised, but at no stage did Council staff or Councillors raise the issue of a 5,000 litre a day limit at the Aberdeen septic facility.

In fact Councillor Lorna Driscoll said during the discussion that she could allay people’s concerns about capacity in Aberdeen.

“I know when it was built and it has plenty of capacity, people don’t have to worry,” said Cr Driscoll.

There is a reference on page 17 of the committee’s agenda that states “…the capacity spare in the treatment equates to 5,000 lts of septic waste,” but the matter was never raised during the meeting.

Mr Bridge said he is angry at Council staff for misleading the community.

“The staff member who has told me about the limit was sitting right beside Cr Driscoll when she gave that assurance but they didn’t correct her or discuss what the restrictions were,” said Eddie Bridge.