Breaking ground at South Kempsey Pressure Sewer Scheme site

Kempsey Shire Council was awarded a $2.32 million grant under the NSW Government's Regional Growth Fund to construct a centralised sewerage system in the South Kempsey Employment Lands Hub.

The sewerage collection system is being built to equip current buildings in the area, as well as cater for future demands of local industry and housing.

The design for the project consists of an industry best practice reticulated sewerage system with a network of pressure pipes and grinder pumps that will connect this largely industrial area to the local sewer network.

Kempsey Shire Council water and sewer manager Wes Trotter said the design of the facility will allow council to keep adding to the system to accommodate population growth in the area.

"It is supporting all of the industrial land in the sub-division as well as Macleay Valley Way," Mr Trotter said.

The tender for the South Kempsey Pressure Sewer Scheme was awarded to EIRE Constructions at the 2021 October council meeting.

Group managing director Tadhg Kelliher said the project will take around six months to complete and there will be 20 to 25 people employed.

"We have a pretty strong connection to the area, my family is from Kempsey, so it's really great to be able to deliver a project here," Mr Keliher said.

Former mayor Liz Campbell said it was the next step in council's plan to get sewer lines connected to South Kempsey.

"It has been in the pipeline for about eight years now," Cr Campbell said.

Council general manager Craig Milburn said this is one of many projects council is focusing on in the Macleay to meet the demands of population growth.

"We are on the front foot with getting that planning in place, to making sure we are dealing with the capacity limits we are looking at in the region," Mr Milburn said.

This is one of three major sewerage infrastructure projects the council will be developing in the coming years.

Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, said that the NSW Government was delivering significant investment for all areas of regional NSW under the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund.

"By supporting the construction of a modern, centralised sewerage system in the South Kempsey Employment Lands Hub, it will provide a boost to local business activity and keep money flowing through the local economy," Mrs Pavey said.

"The NSW government will continue to fund projects that aim to support communities to recover from the significant challenges brought on by drought, bushfires, storms, floods and COVID-19."

The other projects are:

Crescent Head wastewater treatment plant

Stuarts Point sewerage scheme

Willawarrin water treatment plant

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: