Water Need, Costs, Alternatives.
Just how important will the water contribution of the proposed Doncaster sewage treatment plant be? Less than 0.1% of the Desal Plant… And at what cost?
It has been superceded by the Desal, & you are already paying for that.
Three details worthy of note below:
- EPA residential Buffer zones around this site are 200m & 300 meters, not the 25m proposed !
- Westfield shopping town was not required to accommodate this water source, during their upgrades.
- Melbourne’s Storm water is 94% of it’s annual water usage.
It would seem that both parties ( Manningham council & Yarra Valley Water,) were locked in long before they called for public comment and councillor endorsement. Manningham Planning Officers made the third pipe mandatory in all proposals from 2009 while YVW designed and located the plant.
- The Wonthaggi Desalination Plant was given the go ahead 12 months after the 2008 memorandum of understanding between Manningham and YVW.
- The Desalination plant will have a capacity to deliver 200 gigalitres.
- Melbourne’s annual water consumption is between 410-425 gigalitres.
- Melbourne’s annual stormwater is approximately 400 gigalitres.
- Melbourne’s annual waste water discharge is approximately 300 gigalitres.
- The higher cost of water due to the running of the Desalination Plant ($1.97 million per day plus contracted water delivery), will in itself further the prudent use of water,
- In fairness to YVW and Manningham Council there was no decision on a Desalination Plant at the time of the MOU.
- Westfield Shopping Town does not have the third pipe facility nor do a number of existing permits.
COSTS
Construction Cost Estimate
Item Total
Water mains $931,400
Building plumbing $890,000
Recycled Water Treatment Plant $4,470,575
Water storage tank $620,000
Water pump station $272,205
Sub Total $7,184,180
Contingency – 30% $2,155,254
Total $9,339,434
Annual Operating Cost Estimate
Item Total ($/year)
Water main operation and maintenance $1,666
Water tank operation and maintenance $12,907
Building plumbing maintenance $13,350
Water pump station operation and maintenance $17,786
Recycled Water Treatment Plant operation and maintenance $278,417
Flow meter operation and maintenance $500
Meter reading and billing $8,010
Total $332,636
It is important to note that these costs were estimated during the conceptual design phase of the project, so are just an early estimate. This is why a 30% contingency has been added to the estimated construction costs. Once YVW have finalised the preliminary design we will be able to prepare a more accurate cost estimate.
Buffer Zones
Beyond that – it is way too close to the public for it’s current size. ( EPA 200m Buffer Zone guidelines.)
And if expanded to accommodate the potential capacity – even worse by EPA guidelines. ( 300m)