Pump Out Protest Group
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Pump Out Protest Report by Cr Tatton 3 Feb 2010
Information as requested by Pump-Out Protest Group from Cr Tatton as follows and presented to the MADCA meeting Wednesday 3rd February Mapleton Hall:-
1. How will frequency be established in the case of new connections?
Existing holding tanks will be assessed on current usage and the frequency determined from this current data. New holding tank services frequencies would be determined on the current number of people at the residence. Current data shows that a 2 adult , 2 child family would have usage consistent with a 2 weekly pump out service. Should the residence be of 2 adult only and have installed an approved grey water system, consideration would be for an extended service period of 4 weeks. Pump out data would be continually monitored for changes in pump out litres. Council responsibility is to set frequencies so that a chance of effluent leakage is minimised for the health benefits of the community at large.
2. What about unusual amounts removed from tank due to temporary increases in residents numbers per household?
This would be treated no different as per previous charges. A extra pump out charge would apply and extra litres over the set amount (currently 5000 litres) would also be charged to the property owner at a rate yet to be determined. Tender evaluations are currently being undertaken by council staff for the new contract to start on October 1, 2010. The rateable charge, extra litres charge and emergency call out charge can not be calculated until a new contract has been let.
3. Who will assessment of holding tank frequencies?
The assessment will be the responsibility of Waste and Resource Management Staff who administer the "Liquid Waste Contract"..
4. Improperly installed tanks with inflows during heavy rain events?
Advice from the Plumbing Department is that this is a responsibility of the property owner to ensure that the tank conforms.
5. Transfer of holding tanks from Waste and Resource Management to Water Services?
Currently Waste and Resource Management has the responsibility to administer the contract to service holding tanks in the Sunshine Coast Council. W & R M is currently in the process of evaluating tenders so a new contract can be awarded for a October 1 start date.
6. Rateable charges for Sewer and Holding Tank Pump out Charges?
Council's policies is that the user pays systems applies. The cost to the rate payer, for a pump out service, is based on the cost of the liquid waste contractor pumping out a tank, the disposal of the effluent at the Sewerage Treatment Plant and the costs to Council to administer the "Liquid Waste Contract".
7. Accurate measurement of effluent pumped from holding tanks?
The proposal for the new contract commencing October 1, 2010 is that the contractor provide a measuring device or meter that conforms to Australian Standards and is acceptable to the Queensland Government Department of Fair Trading. Council staff are currently reviewing tenders for the purpose of awarding a new "Liquid Waste Contract" commencing October 1, 2010.
Pump Out Group Report - July 2009
On Thursday 2 July 2009, we attended a meeting at Council to discuss the ongoing pump out issues and costs to the ratepayers associated with the service.
PRESENT: Fay Moss, Celia East, Eve Kerr - representatives of Pump-Out Protest Group (POPG), sub-committee of the Mapleton and District Community Association; the Hon. Peter Wellington, Member for Nicklin, Cr Paul Tatton, Cr Jenny McKay, Mr Gerard Kavney (Manager of Infrastructure Services) and Mr Michael Lukin (Manager for Planning and Sustainability of Sunshine Coast Water).APOLOGIES: The Hon. Alex Somlyay, Federal Representative
The issue of current costs to ratepayers and the Council for the pump-out service is to rise considerably over the next months and with the letter Mr Wellington showed to the meeting it seems that no funding will be available to Council from the State Government. As Mr Somlyay was not present at the meeting it is not known how the Federal Government would be placed if approached for funding. A meeting is being arranged for a meeting with Mr Somlyay, Fay, Celia and Eve when this issue can be addressed.
We had previously requested that research be done beforehand by all those invited to the meeting into whether funding could be obtained for a sewerage treatment plant on the Range, also, what methods were being implemented elsewhere both in this country and the world. Reticulated sewerage feasibility work is being done around various places in this Shire, but Mapleton is unique due to a lack of reticulated water and not currently being considered. To put in a sewerage treatment plant up here would cost about $20 million dollars. Michael Lukin is however keen to look at the lesser option of having a small treatment plant somewhere up on the range, and two trucks permanently stationed here for the express purpose of taking effluent to it rather than taking it down to Nambour, a round trip of 24 kilometres. We estimate that the transport and time taken to do so is a large part of the current cost.
Peter Wellington pin-pointed a large section/parcel of land near Mapleton which may be a suitable place for a treatment plant, if funds were found for it. Michael Lukin said that the size of dispersal (of treated effluent) land around the treatment plant would need to be quite considerable. A commercial plant would require a much larger dispersal area than is required for household, proportionately as different filters are used in these systems, and that the filtration sand has to be replaced every ten years. It was also pointed out that a sewerage treatment system would only work in dry weather, and in wet weather effluent would have to be carted to the sewerage works down in Nambour. We were unable to ascertain how much rain at anyone time would constitute wet weather.
We raised the problems of improperly installed holding tanks, and were told that as septic systems fail there could be more holding tanks installed in the area if some properties are unsuitable for a domestic onsite treatment plant.
Finally Gerard announced that a further 50% of the current subsidy we receive on the cost of pump-out is to be removed this financial year, and that he would be sending letters to every property owner with holding tanks advising them of the cost increase within the next few days - before the Rates notices are sent out.
It was agreed by all present at the meeting that a feasibility study for the Mapleton, Flaxton and Montville area be undertaken to have treatment plant, installed up here and we all meet again in two months time to discuss the results of the study. We will in the meantime meet with Alex Somylay regarding assistance with funding.
Pump Out Group Report - March 2009 On 5 March 2009 the Pump Out Protest Group, a sub-committee of the Mapleton & District Community Association Inc., met with Clr Paul Tatton to discuss some proposals to help resolve issues facing ratepayers with holding tanks in the Sunshine Coast Region.
The meeting was very productive and the following points have been forwarded to Clr Tatton to be taken to the next Budget and/or Ordinary Council meeting:
- That Council investigates providing a sewerage treatment plant on the Blackall Range to service specifically the Blackall Range holding tank properties, both commercial and residential.
- It would be appreciated by the Blackall Range residents that you move a resolution to the above effect in a budget or ordinary meeting ASAP.
- That you contact Peter Wellington's office seeking assistance for funding from the State Government to help finance such a facility.
- That you contact Alex Somlyay's office seeking whether there is any Federal Government funding for such a facility.
- That the current holding tank subsidy be retained in its present form until such time as the sewerage treatment plant is up and running at optimum capacity.
- That the facility be serviced by a pump out truck dedicated solely to the Blackall Range area.
- That this would serve as a short term solution to the long term outcome of reticulated sewerage for the Blackall Range area.
The POPG have been active on this issue for the past five years and to date no equitable solutions have been reached with Council. Due to recommendation by a Council Working group to phase out the subsidy currently provided to ratepayers on holding tanks within the central region (old Maroochy Shire), and therefore increase the cost to the ratepayer considerably, we need to act NOW.
It would be helpful if other residents with holding tanks could provide feedback regarding the above to keep this issue before Council to ensure a speedy resolution.
For further information, to give your comments or view the latest updates on this subject, please contact the Pump Out Protest Group via this web site or Clrs Tatton or McKay directly at Sunshine Coast Regional Council.