Warrumbungle Shire Council’s mayor has praised the NSW Government’s move to upgrade to the  Dunedoo Sewage Treatment Plant for improving efficiency and better protecting the environment. 

The NSW Government has announced it will upgrade the Dunedoo Sewage Treatment Plant, which it says will deliver modern new infrastructure and provide greater protections for the environment.  

The $3.4 million project, funded by the New South Wales Government and Warrumbungle Shire Council, will be rolled out in stages over the next three years.   

The first stage is an upgrade to this facility’s maturation pond, which is responsible for disinfecting effluent from the main treatment unit before discharging it back safely to the environment.   

Followed by upgrades to treatment and sludge management systems, a new aeration unit, improvements to automation to make the plant easier to monitor and control remotely, new amenities and electrical work, along with a better access road.   

Image: Warrumbungle Shire Council. 

The current plant was built in 1970 and has passed its design life and is struggling to meet Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, with several breaches being recorded over the past nine years.   

The rest of the build is being funded by Warrumbungle Shire Council. The Safe and Secure Water Program is supporting more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with more than 260 in various stages of delivery.   

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Director – Infrastructure Development, Lisa Hingerty said, “We want to ensure regional councils have the right infrastructure in place to provide modern sewerage services that also safeguard the environment.   

Mayor Ambrose Doolan. Image: Warrumbungle Shire Council.

Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire Council, Ambrose Doolan, said that sewage treatment is an essential service and by partnering with the Government, Council can strike the right balance between supporting the community and better protecting the environment.   

“Upgrading the plant will ensure our treatment processes are up to scratch and working more efficiently for the benefit of our 1,200 residents and waterways,” Mr Doolan said.   

“It’s exciting to see the start of this project getting underway, bringing us closer to a safer and more sustainable wastewater treatment facility. 

Works will commence this month, with the full upgrade expected to be complete by the end of 2026.