Tabulam Water and Sewer
Kyogle Council is inviting feedback regarding the feasibility and costs to install a modern town sewerage system and town water supply in the village of Tabulam. Please provide your feedback by completing the survey at the link below.
BACKGROUND
The feasibility and costs to install a modern town sewerage system and town water supply in the village of Tabulam includes two parts:
- Sewer System in Tabulam
- Water Supply in Tabulam
1. Sewer System in Tabulam:
Background: An audit in 2010 highlighted issues associated with 'On-site Sewerage Management Systems' (OSMS) (e.g. septic tanks and evaporation trenches) in several of Council's unsewered villages. A feasibility study undertaken in 2014 reviewed options and costs associated with rectifying the problem.
Cost: The recommended option was to install a modern town sewerage system in the village of Tabulam at a total estimated cost of approximately $3 million. Since that time, Council have received funding to support the progression of detailed design plans, purchase of land for a treatment plant etc. However, in 2023 the cost of the scheme was estimated to be $13.4 million. This is because there have been significant increases in cost in the water and sewer industry, and the 2026 costs are likely to be higher again.
Funding: In order to fund the scheme, Council will need to:
- source 75% funding from the NSW and/or Commonwealth Government (However, there are no current funding schemes for this type of project)
- sewer rates for all Kyogle Council residents connected to sewer would need to be increased (currently they are $1,098 per property and will see increases of 6% per year on average for the next 10years. Sewer rates would likely be charged to residents 1 year prior to construction commencement, as allowed for in the Local Government Act.)
- sewer rates for residents of Tabulam would have to be implemented years before the scheme is even built, and
- residents would need to self-fund plumbing modifications and decommissioning of existing on-site septic systems
Interconnectedness with water supply: there are operational, social and environmental risks associated with implementing a new sewerage scheme without a water supply system. That is why this project has two parts (Sewer and Water). See below for an overview of the Water Supply part of the project.
2. Water Supply in Tabulam
Since the 1950s, efforts have been made to develop a water supply scheme for Tabulam. Most recently, in 2021, Council received funding from SSWP to undertake a scoping study. The study identified a 4-stage implementation of a town water supply (including a pipeline to connect the Jubullum community), with a total cost close to $10M.
Funding: Unlike sewer, there is an avenue for NSW and Commonwealth funding , however, similar to sewer:
- water rates for all Kyogle Council residents connected to sewer would need to be increased (currently they are an average $1,003 per property and will see increases of between 4% per year on average for the next 10years. Water rates would likely be charged to residents 1 years prior to construction commencement, as allowed for in the Local Government Act.)
- water rates for residents of Tabulam would have to be implemented years before the scheme is even built, and
- residents would need to self-fund plumbing modifications
Interconnectedness with sewer: implementing a water supply without a sewer system could exacerbate the existing OSMS issues.
Kyogle Council is keen to hear your thoughts about this project. Please complete the survey (see link below).