16 May 2014

Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, was today joined by Federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor and Mayor of Young Shire Council, Stuart Freudenstein, to officially open the Young Sewerage Scheme.

“It gives me great pleasure as the Local Member to officially open the Young Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade and Recycled Water Scheme,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“The scheme involves replacement of the out-dated sewage treatment plant, which was over 70 years old, with a modern facility that will meet the community’s needs well into the future and provide both improved health and environmental outcomes.

“A major benefit of this project is the marked improvement in effluent quality as a result of using modern technology.

“This scheme will allow more recycled water to be utilised for irrigation of the local golf course and sporting fields and there will be a marked improvement in excess discharges into Burrangong Creek.” 

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said the Commonwealth strongly supported clever initiatives like Young’s recycled water scheme.

“Water is our most precious resource. The Federal Government will prioritise water recovery into the future through investing in infrastructure and, as confirmed in this week’s Budget, our spending on water infrastructure in the Murray Darling Basin, will total almost $2.5 billion.

“By funding clever projects like these, benefits to regional communities will flow,” Mr Taylor said.

Ms Hodgkinson said this scheme highlights the very strong working relationship the NSW Government has with Councils, through the NSW Office of Water, to work together to deliver improved water supply and sewerage projects.

 “At a cost of $23 million, this project was jointly funded by Young Shire Council, with the NSW Government providing $5.1 million from the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program and the Australian Government, which provided $1.55 million from Strengthening the Basin Communities Program,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“Not only will this scheme deliver improved water treatment facilities to the community of Young, the local economy and employment has also benefited from the construction works.

“This scheme is a great example of how the NSW Government is committed to helping local councils and water authorities to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable water supplies and sewerage systems to NSW communities through the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

More information on the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program is available on the NSW Office of Water’s website - www.water.nsw.gov.au