A desalination plant could be back on the agenda for the region, but the former preferred site of beneath the Budgewoi dunes is off the table.
Central Coast Council is inviting residents to provide feedback on proposed modifications to existing planning approvals for the possible construction of a drought response desalination plant.
Administrator, Dick Persson, said the project was one of two measures critical to securing the Coast’s water supply for the future.
The existing planning approval for the intake structure would be modified from being located under the sand dunes at Budgewoi Beach, to a direct ocean intake structure off the coast between Jenny Dixon Beach, Noraville, and Pelican Point Beach, Magenta.
Council Director, Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader, said that for many years, Council’s drought response contingency plan has included the possible construction of a desalination plant if water supplies fell to critical levels.
“Studies since 2005 have supported the construction of a desalination plant and associated infrastructure adjacent to the existing Toukley Sewage Treatment Plant,” Loader said.
“The initial proposed location of the intake structure for the plant was under Budgewoi Beach utilising a horizontal collector well intake design.
“A constructability assessment of this proposed model revealed a number of potential risks, associated construction challenges and ongoing maintenance burdens at the beach site.
“As a result, this model and intake structure is not favoured.
“The preferred model would utilise a conventional direct ocean intake located approximately one kilometre off the coast, between Jenny Dixon Beach, Noraville and Pelican Point Beach, Magenta.
“Using this known and proven technology would result in less impact to beach users, pose less construction challenges and would result in significantly lower costs to construct if it were required.”
As well as seeking community feedback, Council is undertaking a series of studies including intake site selection, water quality reviews, marine monitoring, marine hazard, ecology impact assessment and Statement of Environmental Effects documentation.
Residents are also being invited to have a say on Council’s Integrated Water Resource Plan.
They can complete an online survey giving their preferences on which are the best options to secure the Coast’s water supply for future generations.
The plan will help collaborative work with Hunter Water and the Department of Planning Industry and Environment to make sure that the Central Coast and Lower Hunter regions have water strategies that can work side by side.
Loader said the plan would address many uncertainties being faced not just at a local level, but also at a global level.
“Climate variability and change, population growth and advances in technology, as well as more acute stresses such as drought, these are all issues we need to address in our planning, especially when it comes to our water supply,” he said.
“We’ve developed a survey, so you can understand what the different water supply and demand options we are considering are and let us know how you feel about them.
Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterplan to fill out the survey.
Administrator, Dick Persson, has strongly encouraged community members to get involved in planning the regions’ water future by providing feedback on both projects. “We can only achieve a resilient and sustainable water future by learning together as a community to value our precious resource,” he said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 8
Central Coast Council