02 6499 2222 council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) Bega Valley Shire Library Sapphire Aquatic Centre Sapphire Coast Tourism
Have your say

Environmental Assessments

What Environmental Assessments have been carried out.

Image of pond.


The following environmental assessments have been done:

  • November 2018 - Geotechnical investigations around the exfiltration ponds at the STP. The results will be correlated with available historical information to help us understand ground conditions to inform infrastructure design.
  • October 2018 - Heritage investigations at the STP to search the area for heritage items, including items of Aboriginal significance.
  • August 2018 - Marine ecology studies, which have focused on the plants and animals in Merimbula Bay, the coastal waters to the north and south of the Bay, as well as Merimbula Lake and Pambula Lake.
  • May 2018 and August 2017 - Two dye dispersion tests in Merimbula Bay to understand how waterborne materials travel and spread in the bay’s currents. Testing at different times of the year and at different depths and locations provides a complete picture of how currents behave in different water temperatures and depths. This information will help inform the best location for the ocean outfall.
  • September 2017 - Flora and fauna studies. Over several days, environmental scientists looked for different plants and animals in the area between the STP and Merimbula Bay using direct observations (seeing a species or hearing a call) and indirect observations (seeing habitats, hair or tracks).

In conjunction with Council, consultants from AECOM have also been monitoring the STP and Merimbula Bay to gather information for decision making about the STP upgrade and the best alignment for the ocean outfall.

Studies have also focused on the water in the bay and the ground below it, including above and below the seabed. Looking below the seabed allows us to understand construction challenges while looking above the seabed allows us to map formations like rocky reefs.


 

© Bega Valley Shire Council 2025

Our council websites

Contact Us

Follow us

Sign up for newsletters