Sewerage testing to begin

COUNCILLOR Sue Abbott said she was relieved to learn Upper Hunter Shire Council would finally be undertaking sewerage testing for covid-19.

Please note: UHSC has since stipulated only Scone will be sewerage tested by NSW Health and the Council has not committed to testing other towns within the local government area. Read: Sewerage test in Scone not other towns.

Cr Abbott has repeatedly raised the issue for 18 months, but her requests had fallen on deaf ears; until Member for Upper Hunter, David Layzell questioned if local testing was being undertaken, following Mudgee and Dubbo detecting the virus in their sewerage systems. 

“It has taken 18 months, but I’m glad it is finally happening after some urging from the Local Member,” said Cr Abbott.

“It’s such a simple and cost effective way to detect if there may be covid-19 circulating in our community,” she said.

“At the beginning of the pandemic I saw countries overseas picking up the virus in sewerage, before cases were identified and it allowed them to act quickly to avoid outbreaks,” she said. 

“The testing will allow us to keep a close read on any undetected cases in our area and it means if we do detect the virus in our sewerage the community can rally for testing and identify any cases early, hopefully preventing an outbreak,” she said.

“I was pleased to hear this morning that the Council will undertake the testing and for only a few hundred dollars it is a simple step to help keep residents safe,” Cr Sue Abbott said.