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Coffs Harbour completes new sewerage links

Greater recycling and better environmental management are some of the key features of new sewerage works in Coffs Harbour. As a popular tourist destination and area for retirees and seachangers, catering for an increasing population is an ongoing issue for Council.

The Deep Sea Release and the Woolgoolga Water Reclamation Plant was officially opened in March this year, marking the completion of two major components of Coffs Harbour’s $170 million sewerage strategy. Commissioning of the Deep Sea Release enables the outfall at Corambirra Point to be closed and the site rehabilitated.

Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Keith Rhoades, said this is a major milestone in the strategy, “This aims to improve services for a large part of our community and safeguarding our environment,” he said “Improvements in the water and sewerage system will mean a better quality of life for many members of our community. They will also help protect our precious water resources and unique environment.”

The upgrade has tripled the capacity of the Woolgoolga Water Reclamation Plant, enabling it to treat effluent from the soon to be connected Arrawarra and Mullaway areas, as well as cope with the future growth in this area.

Reclaimed water – wastewater that has been given additional treatment – can now be used for the irrigation of crops, parks, sporting fields and for dust suppression.

The Deep Sea Release is a pipeline running from the Coffs Harbour Water Reclamation Plant, along the western side of the North Coast rail line, under the dunal system on Boambee Beach and then 1.5 kilometres out to sea. It will be used to discharge any excess reclaimed water that is not used for irrigation.

Council’s General Manager, Mark Ferguson, said the completion of these key components is a massive step forward in the Sewerage Strategy.

“In the past three years, we have built 15 kilometres of reclaimed water pipeline from Woolgoolga to the Deep Sea Release, an operational and upgraded Water Reclamation Plant and a Deep Sea Release pipeline,” he said. “We are also already working on the sewering of Mullaway and Arrawarra. The future benefits to our community of this stage of the Sewerage Strategy are immense.”

Clean Up Australia Chairman and founder, Ian Kiernan, assisted the Mayor with the official openings of both the Woolgoolga Water Reclamation Plant and the Deep Sea Release.

“I came to Coffs Harbour in 2003 to view these projects at their beginnings,” he said. “On that visit I predicted that this city’s Sewerage Strategy was the way of the future.

“I also predicted it would become a benchmark project. It’s terrific to see it all come together. I congratulate everyone involved. You’ve set the benchmarks for other communities to match.”

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