On Sunday, July 8, Barwon Water and the Colac Otway Shire Council hosted a community information session to provide an update on the progress of the wastewater solutions being considered for Forrest.

Building on the previous community session (held in late April) and subsequent survey, the July session focused on presenting four wastewater solutions packages designed for Forrest.

Barwon Water Strategy and Partnerships General Manager Kate Sullivan said the four solutions incorporated community feedback and included innovative stormwater and greywater treatment, partial onsite containment, offsite treatment and pressure sewer systems.

20 people attended the session and they were able to talk with the project team, review the possible solutions and provide feedback.

Some of the feedback included making sure potential solutions were designed for the long-term, cost effective and affordable, supported the town during peak tourism periods and incorporated innovative elements such as the use of recycled water in the township.

The project will now move into the solutions assessment stage, where another community session will be hosted in early September, 2018.

“At this session, the community will be able to have their say and assess each solution against the community vision and associated criteria with the view to making a community recommendation on a wastewater solution for Forrest,” said Sullivan.

In addition to this, the Colac Otway Shire Council will be conducting follow-up wastewater audits on properties in Forrest that could not access previously and liaising property owners previously audited in late 2017.

Colac Otway Shire Council Development and Community Services General Manager Gareth Smith said Council will work with property owners to determine what might be needed to ensure their system is functioning properly.

The wastewater investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Barwon Water and Colac Otway Shire Council will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.