WASLEYS won’t be receiving a Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) anytime soon, after a feasibility study concluded one is not needed.

The study, carried out by Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (WGA), found only six per cent of properties in the town did not have adequate land available for on-site disposal, while half of properties had existing secondary treatment (aerobic) systems.

“The majority of potential future development within the township consists of large rural living blocks, which have sufficient on-site disposal area,” it states.

“…the marginal cost associated with servicing these blocks with CWMS infrastructure is high.”

The study was funded by the Local Government Association (LGA), at $40,000, which Light Regional Council will now need to repay.

The LGA has also advised it will not fund any further investigations, including a preliminary design, for a CWMS in Wasleys.

“An assessment undertaken by the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) confirmed that there are likely no drivers for a CWMS in Wasleys,” LGA CWMS Program manager Michelle Wittholz wrote in a letter to council.

“SA Health also reviewed the report and are also of the opinion that there does not appear to be a clear risk to public health and also consider that there is no driver for a CWMS.

“Based on recommendations from WGA, SA Health and the EPA, the CMC (CWMS Management Committee) resolved that there was not enough evidence for the CWMS Program to provide funding for the preliminary design.”

Installation of a scheme would have cost an estimated $5 million, with per connection costs in the order of $20,000 to $30,000.

Wasleys is currently the only major town in the area not serviced by a community waste management scheme aside from Hewett, which is connected to the SA Water wastewater system.