South Australia’s Mid Murray Council has been awarded the Norman Waterhouse Award for Excellence in Environmental Health Management for its innovative Mid Murray River Dwelling Effluent Removal program servicing holiday homes and shack communities along the Murray River. Council’s Environmental Services Manager, Kelvin Goldstone, said that establishing septic tank effluent disposal systems (STEDS) for shack dwellings has resulted in an overall improvement to the River Murray flood plain environs and has assisted in orderly development of shack areas.
“The program has been underway for several years and Council can now boast more than 20 communal STEDS facilities along the river,” he said. “Effluent is collected, treated and recycled to irrigation sites beyond the 1956 flood plain.”
Established by the Australian Institute of Environmental Health, the annual awards recognise outstanding achievements and innovations in the protection and conservation of Australia’s environment.
“I think our program appealed to the judges because of our holistic approach to the issue,” Kelvin Goldstone said. “Council handles the tendering, evaluation, installation and maintenance of the schemes and we offer financial options to shack owners which has enhanced the acceptance of the schemes. The whole of Council shares in this award as there have been numerous disciplines within Council coordinating the program.”
Mayor of Mid Murray, Councillor Ian Mann, said full credit goes to the Environmental Services staff and shack owners who have been most cooperative.
“Mid Murray Council is scoring some considerable runs in the broader community and it is only reasonable to expect some state and national accolades to be coming our way,” Mayor Mann said.
For further information contact Mid Murray CEO, Dean Gollan, on (08) 8569 0100.
