Information about Council's community initiatives and support.
Information about Council's regular services and programs.
Information about doing business and investing in the shire.
Information about how Council operates.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has granted Council permission to discharge excess treated effluent from the Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from the outfall on to the beach as a result of an unusually large amount of rainwater entering the sewer system.
Photograph: The ocean outfall pipe on Main Beach, Merimbula
28 July 2020
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has granted Council permission to discharge excess treated effluent from the Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from the outfall on to the beach as a result of an unusually large amount of rainwater entering the sewer system.
The discharge will take place today and tonight. Normally any ocean outfall is managed during a few hours in the evenings under regulated licence conditions. However, the current rain event means our Treatment Plant Operator must pump for more hours to ensure the wet weather storage pond doesn’t overflow into Merimbula Lake.
The EPA required Ocean Outfall project will eliminate this public health risk permanently once constructed.
All effluent is fully treated and complies with effluent standards. We recommend that members of the public stay clear of the outfall and avoid coming into contact with the treated effluent discharge.
END
All media enquiries and interview requests are coordinated by Council's Communication and Events team under the adopted Communications Policy. To view this policy, visit Public Policies and search 'communications'.
To submit a media enquiry or to request an interview:
Councillors can be contacted directly for enquiries regarding decisions of the elected Council and non-operational matters. Interviews with the Mayor should be arranged through the Communication and Events team contact details above.
If you’re a journalist or media organisation that would like to receive media releases and notifications about media opportunities, please email your name, title and contact details to media@begavalley.nsw.gov.au and we will add you to our distribution list.
You can also subscribe to Bega Valley Together and Business News, Council's fortnightly e-newsletters, or follow @begavalleyshirecouncil on Facebook and Instagram.
Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550
Monday to Friday 9.00AM to 4.30PM
Administration building Zingel Place Bega
Australia
ABN: 26 987 935 332
Was this helpful?