Council amalgamation leads to $60M saving

28 August 2009 Council amalgamation leads to $60M saving

Sunshine Coast Council's Major Projects Portfolio head Cr Debbie Blumel today announced a $60M saving for Coast ratepayers that was only made possible through the amalgamation of councils.

The $60M saving will be achieved following a decision to pump sewage from the southern slopes of Buderim, Chancellor Park, Mountain Creek and Bundilla to the Kawana Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) instead of the Maroochydore STP, where it is currently pumped.

Cr Blumel said that this decision will enable approximately $60M in savings in the region's sewage transport, treatment and infrastructure costs over the life of the infrastructure.

"With the council amalgamation, we've had the opportunity to review our sewerage network from a regional perspective in terms of solutions to solve capacity issues and reduce the cost of future infrastructure," Cr Blumel said.

"Being able to fully utilise our regional assets reduces the whole-of-life costs of those assets. This is a cost saving for the region and proves the economic value of amalgamation.

"Approving this initiative shows that we are a regional council that can achieve economies of scale and smart planning to benefit the community. The anticipated savings demonstrate that we are living up to expectations of efficiencies, and we're also doing it in a sustainable way."

Cr Blumel said that the diversion will have significant environmental benefits as well as economic merit.

"Our infrastructure planners have done the modelling to determine the most efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable use of our STPs and pump stations," Cr Blumel said.

"Sewage from the South Buderim, Chancellor Park, Mountain Creek and Bundilla areas is currently being pumped in excess of 9 kilometres to the Maroochydore STP using several sewage pump stations. At the time that decision was made, the boundary between council areas was an insurmountable obstacle to the most cost effective and sustainable decision being made.

"The new route cuts this distance in half, and has the added benefit of not having to pump over the watershed boundary along the Buderim Mooloolaba Road.

"Less pump stations also mean less energy use and therefore less greenhouse gas emissions, so this proposal is yet another step towards achieving council's vision of sustainability.

"It is also expected to result in greater treatment cost efficiencies and reduce the potential for odour generation. Overall, this means significantly reduced infrastructure costs, up to $60M, over the life of these sewerage schemes."

The initiative was approved the Ordinary Meeting of Council today.

Permanent Link: Council amalgamation leads to $60M saving
Publish Date: 28 Aug 09

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