Mike Baird | Member for Manly - Sewage Tank Sites Are Unacceptable, Sydney Water Told

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Sewage Tank Sites Are Unacceptable, Sydney Water Told

Monday, 12 October 2009

Manly MP Mike Baird met with the CEO of Sydney Water yesterday to say the community would not accept a sewage tank in Harbord Park or behind Manly Selective High School, nor John Fisher Park if the tank were above ground.

�I requested a meeting with Kerry Schott to express the community�s strong opposition to the sites proposed by Sydney Water for the storage tank solution,� Mr Baird said.

�I am grateful she obliged and heard the case that the Harbord Park and Manly Selective High School sites must be ruled out immediately.

�We understand the storage tank is needed to capture storm water overflows in order to clean up Manly and Curl Curl lagoons, however the proposed sites are not suitable.

�Harbord Park is surrounded by residential homes and the bush behind the school is too important to be destroyed.�

Mr Baird said the community may be open to John Fisher Park as an option if the tank were built below ground, sporting groups were provided with improved facilities for long-term use and transitional facilities during construction, and there were demonstrated long-term positive environmental outcomes achieved.

�There is the potential for local baseball and softball players to get significantly improved facilities out of this project, however it must not go ahead without their full support.

�I also reiterated my suggestion that Sydney Water consider providing additional funds for further environmental work at Curl Curl lagoon to boost the benefit to the community.

�Sydney Water promised to look at the project within these constraints and revert back with a concrete proposal in the next few weeks.

�We all want improved water quality in Manly and Curl Curl lagoons, however this should not be done at the expense of public space or without appropriate community consultation."

MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880

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Comments (12)

Mike Baird

I have watched MB's work with interest and believe that he is an exceptional MP and has the utmost consideration for the benefit of his community. If only we had more like him.

Posted by: Richard Hicks at 13-10-2009 17:03

Sewage Tank Sites Are Unacceptable, Sydn

Stupied Idea and waste of Money.

That bad Enough for the Enviroment and Community.

Please build Sewage Tank Underground.
Underground good idea,

Posted by: Danny Grkovic at 13-10-2009 17:59

Sewerage Tank Location

Rather than just saying we will not support the location. The Board expected that response. Why not ask for a list of the alternate locations they considered - a hard one to answer if they dont have any?
Secondly, Why not ask for a list if siting criteria that way we can all work on the problem. They willl not want the problem taken out of their hands so they will come up with an alternative.
Cheers

Wayne Moynham

Posted by: Wayne Moynham at 13-10-2009 18:13

Sewage Tank..........

Mike, as always you are for the community. We need more people like you in parliament. We do not want an ugly Tank above ground so thank you for your voice on our behalf. Cheers ... Debra Arena.

Posted by: Debra Arena at 13-10-2009 21:52

Sewage Tank..........

Not for one second did I consider that an above ground tank was acceptable ANYWHERE.

Here's an idea: Why not fix the leaks in the existing pipes so they don't overflow (due to groundwater seeping IN) during wet weather? Currently they're more like a colander than sewerage pipes. I hear 20% of the leaks cause 80% of the problem.

They have $70 million to use, how about they use it in a beneficial way?

Posted by: Alicia at 14-10-2009 08:40

Sydney Water Sewerage Tanks

Discussions with Sydney Water reveal that the site in JFP will be 120 mtrs long x 30 mtrs wide x 4 mtrs above ground. It is not possible for the tank to be buried below ground as indicated in the press release due to water table issues at JFP. Building such a huge structure in JFP is totally unsuitable, as are the other potential tank sites in Manly School or Harbord Park. Problems of noise and traffic congestion that make the tank unsuitable in the back of Manly High, will also occur if the tank is constructed opposite the school in JFP...the location may be technically outside the school grounds but will be the same as having it in their front yard. The community emplore Mike to say NO to ALL 3 propsed sites and push Sydney Water to find a suitable location in the Brookvale industrial area or along the actual Narrabeen sub main. Thanks.

Posted by: Deborah Moffat at 26-10-2009 09:42

response to Deb

Hi Deb, agree. Case put forward. Against all proposals and if the tank can't be buried, obviously JFP is a non starter. Did suggest to the CEO that Brookvale industrial should be pursued and she agreed.
cheers
Mike

Posted by: Mike Baird at 26-10-2009 09:56

Sewage Tank Sites Are Unacceptable

Hi Mike - keep up the fight on behalf of us (the local community living around these proposed sites) and our kids (which in the case of Harbord Park use these facilities every day). I came across this issue by chance, via a notice in the bus stop. The local community has not been consulted on this issue so thank god we have politicans like you who are prepared to fight on our behalf. The Harbord Park proposal (I comment on this as I live near the park and am aware of the issues) is just unacceptable and has wide ranging implications for the residents living in the area. As you noted, Sydney Water need to rule out Harbord Park as an option in this matter immediately.

Posted by: Mark James at 26-10-2009 13:42

Sewage Tank @ Harbord Park

Mike , thanks for expressing our views on the storage tank issue.
Along with our 3 young children we live across the street from Harbord Park .
The prospect of such work is devastating. Our children use this park for sports training year round as well as after school activity.
The disturbance to our lives for 3 years of havy construction in a quiet suburban setting is unaccpetable .
Please don't back off. You are our representative and appreciate your effort to date and urge you to give this issue as much muscle as you can.
Is there a Local Action Group formed that you are aware of?

Posted by: Johanna & Campbell Isherwood at 01-11-2009 17:15

Sewage Tank Development

Mike - many thanks for representing the community on this one. All the proposed sites are unacceptable, and especially if above ground.

A couple of follow on thoughts / questions:

1. Where are Warringah Council on this one? Nowhere to be seen? I live in the area and found out via a community action flyer.

2. Are Warringah Council going to do anything to improve the conditions of the stagnant, festering lagoon? Do they have a long term remediation plan for the area? Or was their contribution of grassed netball courts in exhange for hard surface bitumen their sole contribution on this issue?

Posted by: Tim Dodd at 02-11-2009 07:18

Sewage storage tank EIS

Mike Baird,

I've been looking about the sydney water website for any information about the impacts that this storage tank would have on the area, environmentally socially, and finacially. I am currently studying a Bachelor of land & Water Science and i'm very interested in the proposal. What are the chances that you would be able to get an environmental impact statement for this project. I would be very interested in what an outside unbiased opinion would have to say about the proposal.

Posted by: Rowan Vidler at 08-11-2009 11:37

to Rowan

Hi Rowan, thank you for your interest - I will see if I can get Sydney Water to forward you the EIS. Lisa from Mike's office

Posted by: Lisa from Mike's office at 09-11-2009 06:08