Every Fish Creek resident knows the whiff of manky water that haunts the town in the warmer months only too well. It’s a problem that has been going on for decades, with locals agitating and advocating for a proper wastewater system for just as long.
Last week, the Fish Creek Community Development Group tried again, presenting South Gippsland Shire Council with a detailed case for urgent action on the township's longstanding wastewater problem, calling for a shared vision, dedicated council contact and twice-yearly progress meetings to finally resolve an issue that has been festering for decades.
The presentation, delivered at last week’s ‘meet-the-councillors’ meeting in Welshpool, laid out what the community says is an overwhelming body of evidence: multiple feasibility studies, council plans, land capability assessments and environmental reports spanning from 2008 to 2022, all pointing to the same conclusion. Fish Creek needs a proper sewerage system, and without one, the township faces ongoing risks to public health, the environment, business viability and tourism.
Fish Creek is one of the few towns in the South Gippsland shire not yet connected to a sewerage system. Council's own 2016-2022 Wastewater Management Plan identified the township as a priority for improvements, noting that the presence of grey water in street kerbs and channels posed risks to public health and the environment, and that offensive odours were adversely affecting the amenity of the township.
The FCCDG also noted the tourism pressures and impacts. More than 500,000 people pass through Fish Creek each year on their way to Wilsons Promontory and other coastal destinations. Fish Creek hosts the Tea Cosy Festival, Fishy Stories, the Lantern Parade and other significant events.
Clay soils, hilly terrain, high rainfall, seasonal flooding and groundwater springs make Fish Creek a particularly challenging environment for onsite wastewater management. A land capability assessment found that many allotments are too small to sustainably contain wastewater within their boundaries without significant special design and cost. Estimated connection costs for a new system run to approximately $60,800 per household.
South Gippsland Shire Council said in a statement that they appreciated the presentation from the Fish Creek Development Group at the public briefing session on 2 September.
A spokesperson said that "Council has noted the Group’s request, which can be considered as part of the upcoming review of Council’s advocacy priorities. It should be noted that while Council can advocate for improved wastewater infrastructure, Council is not a water authority and does not deliver wastewater services." Cara Schultz
