CITY OF GREATER BENDIGO Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 2014-15 Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 2014 Contents 1 List of Acronyms 3 Purpose and Scope 4 Executive Summary – Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 5 Positioning the DWMS 6 An Introduction to Onsite Wastewater Management 7 Roles and Responsibilities in Onsite Wastewater Management 8 l Chapter 1: Statutory Obligations and Policy Analysis 10 Introduction 10 Legislation and Policies 10 On-site Domestic Wastewater Management 12 Preventing Discharge Beyond Property Boundaries 12 Prevent Impacts on Groundwater Beneficial Uses 14 Assessment of Compliance with Permit Conditions 14 Identification of Priorities and Preferred Options 15 Effluent Disposal and Septic ankT System Maintenance 16 Effective Monitoring of Condition and Management of Onsite Treatment Systems 16 Enforcement Action 17 Independent Auditing and Quinquennial Review 18 Resourcing the Implementation of the Strategy 18 Domestic Wastewater Management Plans 19 l Chapter 2: Integrated Principles and Philosophies 20 Introduction 20 Avoiding the Bookshelf Master Plan 21 The Precautionary Principle 21 A Risk Based Approach 22 Risk Model for Referral, Assessment and Inspection in Special Water Supply Catchment 22 The New Public Health 23 Evidence Based Practice 23 Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development 24 City of Greater Bendigo – Council Plan 2013–2017 25 l Chapter 3: Research and Development Methods 26 Introduction 26 Methods and Methodology 26 Participants and Data Collection 27 Data Analysis and Findings 27 l Chapter 4: Planning for Growth 28 Introduction 28 Supporting Growth with Responsible Wastewater Management 29 Alternative Development Areas 30 Growth of Unsewered Townships 31 Development within the Special Water Supply Catchment 31 Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 2014-15 2 Contents l Chapter 5: Areas for Improvement 34 Introduction 34 Goornong Township 35 Raywood Township 37 Unsewered Strathfieldsaye 39 Heathcote & Argyle 41 Ascot 42 Markovich Lane (A Learning Experience) 43 l Chapter 6: Areas for Careful Management 44 Introduction 44 Junortoun 44 Lakeside Boulevard – Derrinal 46 Mia Mia and Redesdale 48 Sailors Gully & Eaglehawk 51 Goornong Water Supply (Campaspe River) 53 l Chapter 7: Better Practice for Better Outcomes 54 Introduction 54 Considering Wastewater with Planning Permit Applications 55 Determining Safe and Sustainable Disposal Methods (Sewer Availability) 56 Minimum Standards for Land Capability Assessment 57 Minimum Standards for Service Reports 58 Service Contract Termination Notifications 59 Maintaining High Regulatory Standards 59 Promoting Healthy Choice 60 Reserve Areas 61 Creating Supportive Environments for Best Practice 62 Building Capacity for Climatic Reflex 63 Mapping, Monitoring and Education for Safe and Sustainable Environments 64 l Chapter 8: Land Capability Mapping and Assessment Tool 66 The LCM&AT 66 Maintaining a LCM&AT Approach 67 Inclusions & Modifications to the LCM&AT 67 l Chapter 9: Summation of Actions and Recommendations 68 l Appendices 80 City of Greater Bendigo – Permit Flow 81 Questionnaires and Summarised Qualitative Results 82 References & Guidance Material 88 Glossary 92 List of Acronyms 3 COGB City of Greater Bendigo DWMP Domestic Wastewater Management Plan DWMS Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy EHO Environmental Health Officer EPA Environment Protection Authority ESO Environmental Significance Overlay EVH & LL Environmental Health and Local Laws GIS Geospatial Information System GPS Global Positioning System LCA Land Capability Assessment LCM&AT Land Capability Mapping and Assessment Tool LPED Low Pressure Effluent Distribution (a type of onsite wastewater disposal system) MAV Municipal Association of Victoria OWMS Onsite Wastewater Management System PIC Plumbing Industry Commission PTP Packaged Treatment Plant (generally a secondary treatment system) SEPP State Environment Protection Policy SMO Salinity Management Overlay STED Septic Tank Effluent Drainage (a type of hybrid sewer system) SWSC Special Water Supply Catchment VPO Vegetation Protection Overlay Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 2014-15 4 Purpose and Scope This strategy is a guide to the City of Greater Bendigo and its partners in improving onsite wastewater management across the Greater Bendigo municipality. This strategy has been developed with the vision of protecting our drinking water, our community, and our environments from wastewater pollution. Drinking water and sewerage provision is beyond the scope of this strategy, and is a matter for management by the relevant water corporation. Instead, the focus remains on domestic wastewater management systems designed for daily wastewater flows of 5000 litres or less. The strategy identifies a number of actions for the City of Greater Bendigo to undertake in improving wastewater management. Some of the actions involve the partnership of other stakeholders, particularly in developing minimum standards for the industry, yet most actions are the responsibility of the Environmental Health Department, Statutory Planning, and the Strategic Planning Unit . Most actions presented in the strategy fall within three major focus points for achieving the overall goal: - Reducing the negative impacts of offsite discharge is fundamental to improving wastewater management. - Keeping a watchful eye on areas that could present significant issues if their standards deteriorate is important to prevent widespread and irreversible damage. - Mapping, monitoring, promoting higher standards, and applying and sharing new knowledge is the key to managing existing and future onsite wastewater systems in Greater Bendigo. The City of Greater Bendigo has dedicated the necessary budgetary assignments to support the permanent EFT Domestic Wastewater Planner position in implementation of the strategy, proposed monitoring activities, any necessary enforcement, review and audit of the strategy. Executive Summary – 5 Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy Managing wastewater on the land is a method employed Following a review of the original Greater Bendigo by more than 10,000 households in Greater Bendigo. Domestic Wastewater Management Plan in 2013, a new Where reticulated sewerage services are not available to Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy has been a household, an onsite wastewater management system produced. The strategy is developed with the knowledge such as a septic tank provides an opportunity to dispose gained from experience, growth and deeper research in of domestic wastewater on the land. Unlike a reticulated Greater Bendigo since the inception of the initial plan. New sewerage system, once wastewater is generated it is priorities are listed as: directed through a treatment tank, and then applied to the 1. Manage and control new and existing developments land where it is returned to the natural water cycle. This and installations effectively with the best knowledge method for wastewater management can be very effective available to limit their impact in the future. if it is designed and operated correctly, yet if wastewater is mismanaged, it can have detrimental effects on the 2. Reduce the impact of existing blackwater offsite surrounding environment and present a risk to human discharges. health. 3. Reduce the impact of greywater offsite discharges. State environment policy requires that local governments 4. Fill knowledge gaps on existing wastewater develop plans for managing domestic wastewater to management systems by mapping and recording protect environmental assets. Town sewer planning is their construction, function, environment, and managed by water authorities in their sewer and water environmental receptors in a comprehensive, useful plans, so the focus for local governments is planning for and methodical manner. Collate this information onsite wastewater management systems. The City of and use it to support responsible and informed Greater Bendigo first produced a Domestic Wastewater decisions. Management Plan in 2006, yet time, experience and changes in trends resulted in the need to review the plan. 5. Maintain an ongoing process of implementation and evaluation of the domestic wastewater management strategy. These priorities reflect the new attitude applied to domestic wastewater management in Greater Bendigo with this strategy. The strategy sheds a light on wastewater management by exploring planning for growth, areas for improvement, areas for careful management, and better practice for better outcomes. Now, with a stronger focus on socially determined wastewater outcomes, and an approach of flexibility, sustainability and interminability, the strategy is presented to guide action in improving wastewater management in Greater Bendigo into the future. Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy 2014-15 6 Positioning the Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy There are two major fields of influence that determine The Domestic Wastewater Management Strategy functions onsite wastewater management outcomes. In the social within the social domain while the Land Capability Mapping domain we see behaviour, knowledge, management and Assessment Tool (LCM&AT) operates with a stronger of onsite wastewater management systems, as well focus in the environmental domain. With combined as the perception of impact, tolerance and value. The implementation, it is intended that they collaboratively bring social domain is overarching and has direct influence about a more positive operational outcome for wastewater