Sherwood Environmental Precinct Planting of swales in the Sherwood Road Environmental Precinct

Council’s is providing solutions for residences along Sherwood Road Aldavilla that will resolve a combination of stormwater and sewerage problems. Failing septic systems were unable to be resolved on 30 small allotments and stormwater from the roadway and properties was exacerbating this problem. A holistic approach has been taken to resolve the issues with biotreatment swales resolving the stormwater matters and an innovative small scale sewerage system to resolve the failed septics.

Construction commenced in 2009 on the stormwater swales, the community and Aldavilla School being involved in the planting of these swales. A Pilot Plant for the sewerage system is now constructed and the first two houses have been connected. The sewerage system combines the individual household septics with a common effluent treatment system serving all the houses. The effluent treatment system is based on plant absorption of the effluent and nutrient in special channel pots. As added safeguard to protect the local waterway an evapo-transpitaration system follows the absorption channels. It is hoped that the successful trial of the Pilot Plant will enable expansion of the sewerage system to all 30 households by early 2011.

Considerable interest in the performance of these treatment systems has been generated, as it is a sustainable low cost sewerage solution for small communities that is repeatable and requires only a small footprint. Further information on this project is available from Council’s Water Services section.

Trials for Biosolids Reuse

What are biosolids? Biosolids are the earthy product, a rich organic solid primarily the nutrient produced by Council wastewater treatment process. Biosolids can be beneficially used in agriculture as a fertiliser after being tested and graded.

At West Kempsey Sewage Treatment Plant, a lagoon measuring 4,000m3 was completely full. Council had in the past been transporting all biosolids from the 7 sewage treatment plants to the landfill site for disposal and these costs per tonne were rising.

Looking for an alternative, Council contacted a recommended company to guide them through a suitable alternative. The contractors found a suitable property out of the flood zone, yet accessible from West Kempsey Sewage Treatment Plant.

The biosolids were transported by sealed trucks to the farm, stockpiled onsite in a bunded area and then loaded into a mechanical spreader. The application on-ground commenced and the farmer has followed by tilling in the biosolids and then progressively sowing an appropriate crop.

It is considered the trial of this alternative usage of biosolids is more sustainable and if proved successful could be replicated across all of Council’s sewage treatment plants.