Public meeting on Kyneton waste water release

Public meeting on Kyneton waste water release

Published on 09 June 2019

Residents and landowners downstream of the Kyneton wastewater treatment plant are encouraged to attend a community meeting on the recent release of low-quality water into the Campaspe River by Coliban Water.

Coliban Water made an emergency discharge of Class C recycled waste water from its Kyneton Waste Water Treatment Plant to the Campaspe River on Friday and, as a result, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued health warnings for residents and is investigating the issue.

The community meeting will be held on Thursday 13 June 2019 from 6pm to 8pm at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute, 81 Mollison Street, Kyneton.

EPA recommends the following for use of water from the Campaspe River until further notice:

Do not drink the water. Do not use the water for any domestic use such as washing, showering, bathing or processing food. This water may be used for flushing the toilets. Do not use the water for any recreational use such as filling backyard swimming pools. Do not consume any animal such as fish and crayfish caught in the Campaspe River. Do not use the water for irrigating food crops consumed raw. This water may be used for irrigating non-food crops such as turf, trees and flowers provided basic hygiene is practiced with a preference for using an underground drip-feed system. It may also be used to irrigate trees when produce grow 1 m above the ground. The produce should not be wet from the water used for irrigation when harvested. Dropped produce must not be harvested. Do not use the water for watering stock. Do not use the water as wash-down water for milking machinery. The water can be used for irrigation of pasture and fodder for dairy cattle subject to a withholding period of 5 days before pasture use, drying or ensiling of fodder. Controls must be in place to ensure pigs are not exposed to pasture or fodder.

On 31 May the EPA approved an emergency discharge for Coliban Water to release Class B recycled waste water in the hope that it would delay or avoid the need to discharge Class C water. However, now Class C recycled water will be mixed with Class B recycled water and released to the Campaspe River. The release of Class C recycled water will impact landowners along the Campaspe River who are downstream of the water reclamation plant and who draw water for stock and domestic purposes. The EPA is now investigating, so Council is encouraging affected landowners to attend the community meeting.

For more information visit EPA Victoria