Gosford City Council awards tender for  new water recycling plant  

Gosford City Council last night awarded a tender for the design and construction of new water recycling facilities at its Kincumber and Woy Woy sewage treatment plants to Water Treatment Australia Pty Ltd.

The new treatment system will produce recycled water for non-drinking purposes as part of Gosford City Council's strategy to substitute, in the short term, up to five per cent of the water supply system. The recycled non-drinking water will be used for construction, landscaping and irrigation purposes.

'As a Council we are committed to pursuing a long-term water recycling strategy as a means of creating a viable, sustainable water supply system for the Central Coast,' said Gosford City Council's Mayor, Laurie Mayor.

'The awarding of this tender is another step forward to us being able to substitute, in the longer term, up to 25 per cent of the town water supply with recycled water.'

Progress is also being made on Gosford City Council's two other major water recycling projects - the $1.7 million Kincumber Dual Reticulation Project and $9.35 million water mining demonstration plant in the heart of the CBD.

'Both these projects are progressing well,' said Laurie Maher. 'Concept designs are underway as are environmental assessments to make sure we implement them in the best way possible.

'These projects are vitally important to our overall integrated water cycle management plan, particularly as the Kincumber project involves the construction of the first component of a 600mm trunk main to carry recycled water to the general community.

'As for the Gosford CBD water mining project, this is all about us providing the community with information about recycled water and giving them the opportunity to see how the technology works first hand.

'The demonstration plant will produce six star quality water which is higher than the standard of our current drinking water but for non-drinking water purposes only,' he said.

The Gosford CBD project will be up and running by late next year and remain in place for two years as part of an intensive community education and information campaign to provide people with the facts so they can make an informed not an emotional decision about recycled drinking water.

'Currently we believe there is strong support out there in the community for the use of recycled water but we are just at the start of a journey to put recycled water on the agenda and provide people with the chance to ask their questions and raise their concerns,' said Laurie Maher.

'Currently we have applications in to both the State and Federal Government seeking financial support for these projects but as yet there's been no indication of whether this will be forthcoming.'

ENDS

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Please note, last night Gosford City Council also endorsed a short list of companies to submit tenders for the design, development and construction of a new low pressure sewerage system for Mooney Mooney and Cheero Point residents.

This Saturday, residents in the area have the opportunity to attend an Open Day hosted by Gosford City Council to explain in more detail how the new system works and the benefits it will deliver.