Want to provide feedback or find out more? Visit our website and complete our online feedback form at :

COMMUNITY INFORMATION UPDATE iconwater.com.au/bts Email [email protected] Talk to us 02 6248 3111 (Option 9) Belconnen trunk sewer Post GPO Box 366 upgrade projects City ACT 2601

Icon Water, part increasing demand on our water and In addition to improving capacity of the community sewerage infrastructure. Recent major the network also requires some extra development in the region, ventilation and odour control systems and planned development at the to protect new and existing sewerage Icon Water has provided water and , the new suburb of infrastructure and minimise impacts to sewerage services to Canberra for more Lawson and the CSIRO’s the surrounding community. than 100 years. As part of our ongoing Field Station, mean that the Belconnen monitoring and planning for the future, The Belconnen trunk sewer upgrade trunk sewer is nearing capacity and needs Icon Water is currently planning upgrades consists of four projects to be undertaken to be upgraded. to the Belconnen trunk sewer, to ensure over the next few years. The upgrade that we can continue to provide these During extreme wet weather events, projects are: services for generations to come. rainwater and an already steady flow in Belconnen trunk Why do we need to upgrade the sewer can result in sewage escaping sewer augmentation the sewer? from the sewer pipes into Ginninderra Project 1 pipeline Creek. Icon Water appreciates how North Latham Odour The Belconnen trunk sewer was built in valuable the environment and waterways Control Unit (OCU) the 1960s and is a critical part of the are to Canberra – increasing the capacity Latham OCU Belconnen sewerage network, serving in the sewer network will ensure that any Project 2 potential location Belconnen, Gungahlin and . risk of overflow into local waterways is Florey OCU significantly reduced. Project 3 Like most of Australia’s capital cities, potential location Canberra’s population is growing, Evatt OCU Project 4 potential location

Melba

PROJECT 1 Evatt

PROJECT 2 Latham

PROJECT 4

PROJECT 3 PROJECT 1 PROJECT 2, 3 & 4 What does an OCU look like? Belconnen trunk Proposed Odour Control From the outside, OCUs can look very sewer augmentation Units (OCUs) different; some resemble a small shipping container or they can be buried or What is it? What are the projects? partially buried in the surrounding landscape. You probably drive past an This is the largest of the upgrade Three projects are proposed for: OCU every day without noticing. Inside projects, including construction of: the unit there is ductwork to extract gas • Latham (Project 2) from the sewer. The gas is fed through an • approximately 2.4 kilometres • Florey (Project 3) activated carbon filter to absorb the gas of predominately underground • Evatt (Project 4). and remove odour, and a ventilation stack sewer pipe These projects each involve the (up to 24 metres in height) releases the • a pipeline bridge that will support installation of a new structure called an filtered air back out again. You can view the new sewer over Ginninderra OCU, and the connection of these new images of some of the ACT’s existing Creek; and OCUs to the existing sewer network. OCU facilities on the Icon Water website • an OCU at Latham North. (iconwater.com.au/bts). What is an OCU? How long will construction take? Why are they needed? The size of these units varies but an OCU may have a footprint of about 20 metres Construction is estimated to begin in OCUs are a vital part of the sewer by 10 metres, as well as space for mid-2020 (subject to planning approval) network as they allow ventilation and air driveway access. and would take up to two years before filtration to protect the sewer pipes from becoming operational. Construction corrosion. The ventilation an OCU What is the status of these works will be undertaken in stages along provides extends the life of a sewer by projects? Can I give feedback on the corridor. reducing the amount of maintenance that these projects? the pipeline needs, making management What is the planning approval of the network much more efficient. The Planning for Projects 2, 3 and 4 is process for the project? filters used in the OCU and ventilation underway. Potential sites, design options When can I provide feedback? stacks absorb gases such as hydrogen and existing environmental conditions are currently being reviewed. Once the Project 1 requires an environmental impact sulphide, which is a common source of projects are further progressed, we will statement (EIS), which is currently being odours from sewerage systems. be able to confirm what planning prepared for assessment by the ACT approval processes are required. It is Environment, Planning and Sustainable Are there other OCUs in the ACT? anticipated that planning approvals and Development Directorate (EPSDD). The Do they smell? more opportunities for community purpose of the EIS is to assess potential There are nine OCU facilities already feedback for these projects will begin in environmental impacts and determine how in operation across the ACT. They are 2019, with construction starting late 2020. we manage these impacts to avoid or designed to control odours so they minimise them. Public feedback is do not smell. As more details become available on important to us and essential to ensuring these projects, Icon Water will update the community views inform our approach; and website with more information. are included in the Draft EIS. The EIS process and opportunities for community iconwater.com.au/bts involvement are shown in more detail in the diagram below.

Community involvement - every step of the way

Development Planning Construction Preparation Preparation Preparation Application (DA) approvals for of all upgrade Operation of Draft EIS of Draft EIS of Revised EIS for Project 1 Project 2, 3 and 4 projects of assets

NOW 2020

Opportunity for Draft EIS is The Revised EIS Opportunity for Opportunity for Construction will Icon Water’s community input notified on the will respond to all community input community input take place in ongoing asset through website, EPSDD website. feedback by directly to Icon directly to Icon phases to management phone, email, and Members of the members of the Water and Water and minimise impacts. program includes two Community public can make public. through EPSDD. through EPSDD. Icon Water will engagement with Information formal written The Revised EIS continue to work the community Sessions held in submissions to will be made with the and seeking input November 2018. EPSDD. available to the community as required. community through Community can Opportunity for contact Icon community input through the construction to Icon Water minimise impacts. Water at any time through website, by phoning the phone, email, and website and EPSDD. customer service two Community centre on Information 62483111. Sessions held in early 2019.