The lack of a sewerage system is preventing Blackwood’s expansion, residents say, as they urge Central Highlands Water (CHW) to deliver a long-promised connection.
Blackwood Action Group member Brendan Hehir said residents were told almost 10 years ago that state government funding had been set aside for the system.
“Around a dozen towns nearby were delivered the system and we were the town that missed out,” Mr Hehir said.
“We’ve been trying to find out for a long time what happened to that money and we haven’t yet.”
A CHW spokeswoman said the project was stopped because the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) believed the expected nutrient levels of treated wastewater were too high for the receiving waters of Long Gully Creek and, subsequently, the Lerderderg River.
“The EPA rejected the centralised sewerage system application,” she said. “Other solutions, including disposal of treated effluent to agricultural land, would add substantial costs and would not be practical.”
Mr Hehir said the town’s 350 residents were frustrated and willing to pay extra for water management if it meant that they could build.
Some people have spent thousands on septic tanks and clearwater systems, but others are unable to build until a central sewerage system is connected.
“It involves people’s life savings a lot of the time,’’ Mr Hehir said. ‘‘There’s people spending their retirement money on land, or buying it to raise a family.
“If anyone loses a house, they’re not able to rebuild and are forced to move elsewhere.”
Moorabool councillor and Blackwood farmer Pat Toohey said a sensible solution was needed.
“It’s high time something was done,’’ he said. ‘‘Moorabool council is devising water management plans and water tank audits, but I don’t believe these will solve the Blackwood problems.
“CHW was meant to deliver it, but the funding is no longer in their ongoing plans.”
CHW recently conducted an environmental monitoring program, sampling and testing local surface waters and creeks to understand the environmental impact of septic tanks on the town.
“[A working group] will meet again in early 2014 to evaluate the data collected and seek an appropriate waste-water solution,” the CHW spokeswoman said.
A council wastewater management plan, developed after an audit carried out late last year, is expected to be presented to councillors in March or April.
