Coliban Water has formally submitted an application to the Environment Protection Authority to amend its licence to operate the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant.
The amendment, now available for public feedback, seeks a reduction in the dilution ratio required for releases of excess wastewater from the plant to the Campaspe River.
The water authority was last year found guilty of making an illegal release of wastewater to the river in 2019, following on from multiple releases outside its licence over the past decade. It has since upgraded the plant as part of a ‘Kyneton Solutions Project’.
Coliban Water’s managing director, Damian Wells, said the upgrade meant the plant would no longer need to undertake blended water releases to the Campaspe River.
“The only water that will be released to the river, under normal operating conditions, will have been treated by the onsite biological nutrient removal process,” Mr Wells said.
“The BNR process produces a high-quality treated water (tertiary treated) that is considered equivalent in quality to Class B recycled water, which can be put to a range of beneficial uses such as irrigation.”
LANDOWNER CONCERN
Campaspe River landowners remain concerned, however, that the river’s health will continue to be compromised under the new licence.
Huntly Barton said there was conflicting evidence between the consultancy firm and some of the data that Coliban Water had provided.
“We are forwarding questions to Coliban Water due to the gaping holes in their licence application to the EPA and we need answers well before the community consultation day on August 8,” Mr Barton said.
“If they do not respond earlier, we will make all of our concerns accessible to the public.
“There’s gaping holes in terms of phosphorus, dilution, the mixing zone and the means of measurement.”
The licence amendment is now available for feedback until Friday August 19.
To view the application and have your say, go to connect.coliban.com.au/kyneton-wrp-licence-amendment
or call in to the drop-in session on Monday August 8, from 10am to 1pm, at the Kyneton Bowling Club.
The EPA will attend this session to respond to community questions.
