LONG-SUFFERING Angle Vale residents living in new developments who have lived without connection to a main sewer system are set for relief.

Residents living in a number of new Angle Vale housing developments currently have their waste collected into a nearby septic tank, which is emptied and transported to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant.

As reported in The Bunyip in November, these septic tanks were located close to new housing developments and needed emptying up to five times a day as the local population boomed.

Now though, SA Water is set to construct mains along Curtis and Heaslip roads, connecting around 2500 homes to a main sewerage system.

Woodbridge housing estate resident Shannon Toomey was looking forward to the day when he would no longer smell the septic tanks.

“It’s good progress,” he said. “It’s a positive outcome for the residents of Woodbridge, Riverview and the other adjoining estates.

“We want to just get on with it and get it done. It’s been ongoing for far too long.

“This should’ve been sorted from the start. It should’ve been clear to the residents how it (sewerage) was going to work and how long it was going to take.”

Work is scheduled to start on the system in the coming months and will include installing around five kilometres of sewerage drain.

Playford councillor Clint Marsh, who helped run a community campaign to bring the sewer works forward, welcomed the announcement,  but said it should have been built before the nearby housing estates.

“This is the kind of infrastructure which should be put in place by the State Government before waiting for an establishment of 50 per cent of an estate,” he said.

SA Water customer delivery general manager Kerry Rowlands said the planned upgrade will provide several benefits for the community and environment.

“Once connected to our existing network, the new sewer main will assist to better manage sewage flow and odour, and cater for forecast population growth in the area,” she said.

“We understand that odour from the tankering facility is of particular concern to residents, and we assure them that this infrastructure will be decommissioned and removed, once the new system is operational.

“Over the past six months, we have undertaken extensive engineering and design work for the complex upgrade, and on-ground assessments along Heaslip and Curtis Roads are underway – including geotechnical investigations, surveying and service locations – to inform pipe design and alignment.

“Following support for the project confirmed in June by our independent economic regulator, we expect to start the sewer upgrade in coming months, subject to required development and environmental approvals.”