Bega Valley Shire Council | More fieldwork ahead in Merimbula Bay

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More fieldwork ahead in Merimbula Bay - December 2017

We’re continuing fieldwork to gather more information about Merimbula Bay. This will help our project team develop location options for the deep ocean outfall and STP upgrade.

Starting this week, we are doing hydrographic surveys. This means scientists in boats will be measuring the physical parts of the bay like water depth, surface of the seabed and the shoreline.

Throughout October and November, we surveyed the marine ecology in the bay to better understand habitats and refine existing maps of the area. We used underwater videos at selected locations to identify habitats and groups of fish. Abalone fishing is vital to the economy of the area. We included specific surveys to assess the abundance of abalone in shallow sub tidal reef areas.

In early September, we did flora and fauna surveys to list the different plants and animals in the area between the STP and Merimbula Bay. This information will help us understand the area’s variety of plant and animal life, and minimise impact from the project.

We carried out dye dispersion tests in Merimbula Bay earlier this year in August. We released a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the water at several locations in the bay, including Haycock Point (east and north). This information will show how waterborne materials travel and spread in the bay. It will help our designers understand how water flows there. We will do this testing again in the warmer weather.

Category : Fieldwork

Created On : 23 November 2017

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November 2017 Community Update

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FAQs

Originally the outfall extended out into the ocean and beyond the waves, but it was destroyed by a large storm in the 1970s. Since then, the beach-face outfall has been discharging effluent at the centre of Merimbula Beach. The effluent flows across the beach and into the ocean waters of Merimbula Bay.

Effluent (treated sewage) is either reused or disposed of. Council reuses as much effluent as possible for irrigation at Pambula Merimbula Golf Course and farmland at Oaklands. The remaining effluent is disposed using either the dunal exfiltration ponds or the beach-face outfall.

The beach-face outfall has caused community concern around its impact on the aquatic environment and public health. In 2009, the EPA required Council to start investigating better disposal options. After investigating a wide range of options, Council assessed the options with a community focus group made up of state government, interest groups and local community members.

In 2013, the group and Council agreed a deep ocean outfall is the preferred effluent disposal option. Compared to other options the deep ocean outfall has:

the greatest environmental benefit through improving water quality and ecology
least construction and operational impacts recognising the value the Merimbula community places on its beach and ocean fronts
is more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable in the long term.

Link to information about the discounted options: Fact Sheets 1 - 16 Merimbula Effluent Options Investigation (BVSC & AECOM 2013)

As a result, the EPA amended Council's operating licence for the STP to include a requirement to construct a deep-ocean outfall and upgrades to the STP.

First, the Community Working Group must help the project team assess options for upgrading the STP and select an alignment for the deep ocean outfall. After that, the project team will be able to design this infrastructure and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). This design and EIS will be subject to statutory and regulatory approval which we hope to have by 2019. Once we have approval, we will be able to seek funding for detailed design and construction.

This project will be assessed as State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) and will meet the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs).

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Merimbula Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade and Deep Ocean Outfall