Nelligen Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme

We are installing a pump station and pipeline to transfer water from Batemans Bay to a new water supply reservoir - large concrete storage tank - on Clyde Road, North Batemans Bay. From here, the water will gravity fed to another new reservoir, recently built on Old Nelligen Road, Nelligen. We have designed these reservoirs to ensure there is adequate supply for firefighting purposes, even during times of peak holiday demand.

From here, the water will gravity-feed to individual properties in the Nelligen village. Our part of the work will finish at the water meter and connection point installed just inside the boundary of each property.

Property owners will need to arrange for a licensed plumber to connect their property’s water pipes to the new meter.

Property owners can keep their rainwater tanks as either a primary or supplementary water supply, in keeping with appropriate plumbing regulations.

A reticulated system is being installed throughout the village to collect sewage from individual properties. A new pumping station and rising main will transfer the waste to the Batemans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant.

The new system will replace existing on-site sewage management systems, such as septic tanks and pump outs, and will reduce the risk of harm to the environment and public health.

A pump unit is being installed below ground on each property to collect and pump sewage to the street mains via a new pipe and a boundary kit. The pump unit is approximately 1m in diameter and 2m deep.

In comparison to a traditional gravity-fed system, a pressure sewerage system has lower installation costs and reduced environmental and social impacts. The small diameter pipes can be installed at a shallow depth requiring minimal site disturbance. Pipes can be installed using horizontal drilling technology, avoiding deep excavations throughout the village.

The system allows for power failure with approximately 24 hours of storage. Our on-call sewer operators will be available at all times to attend to any issues.

Ownership and maintenance of the sewerage infrastructure from the pump unit to the street mains will remain Council’s responsibility.

• Find out more about Pressure sewerage systems.

On properties where an on-site sewage management system currently exists, we will:

• install a sewage pump unit, pump, pump control panel, discharge pipe and boundary kit
• connect household waste to the pump unit
• provide an electrical connection to the pump and any electrical capacity upgrades required (provided the existing electrical works comply with current standards).

Vacant property lots and houses under construction without an on-site sewage management system will have a connection point (boundary kit) installed only. Future development applicants (for new dwellings) will need to liaise with our Water and Sewer team to arrange installation of a new pressure sewerage system.

To help transfer sewage from Nelligen to the Batemans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant we are building a pumping station on Council-owned land in Bridge View Road. It has been designed to minimise impact on amenity for residents and visitors and will be largely screened from view by existing vegetation.

The station includes a 100kL concrete tank (3m tall) and a single storey brick building (approximately 90m²).  All mechanical and electrical equipment will be housed within this building. Odours from the station will be minimised thanks to an odour control system.

When the water supply becomes available, property owners will be responsible for the following costs:

• connection of household plumbing to the new mains water supply
• an annual standard fee (currently $390 for the 2024-25 financial year)
• water usage (currently $4.10 per 1,000 litres for the 2024-25 financial year)

When the sewerage scheme is operating, property owners will be responsible for the following costs:

• decommissioning of existing on-site sewage management systems eg septic tanks
• an annual standard sewer rate (currently $1,130 for the 2024-25 financial year)
• electrical running costs, approximately $50 per year (for a four-person dwelling).

Future development applicants (for new dwellings) will need to liaise with our Water and Sewer team to arrange installation of a new pressure sewerage system. The standard fee is $13,756 (2024-25 financial year) for the installation.

We engaged NSW Public Works to assess the potential impacts that may result from activities associated with the project. They prepared a Review of Environmental Factors for the following:

• Nelligen Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme Transfer Mains REF (6.8 MB)
• Nelligen Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme Village Reticulation REF (3.3 MB)
• Nelligen Water Supply Reservoirs REF (4.0 MB)