The outcome of a meeting between Yass Valley Council and Gundaroo residents on Wednesday evening (March 20) proved the "power of a community that comes together", said Gundaroo Against Sewerage Plant (GASP) group chair Abram Hays.
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After 12 months-plus of protesting against the council's plans for a sewerage treatment plant in the village, the group and other residents finally heard the council's director of engineering, Stan Robb, would recommend against the proposal.
The recommendation came down to cost, Mr Robb said. He explained the council's proposed 'staged construction' of a sewerage system down Gundaroo's main thoroughfare, Cork Street, would cost each allotment $28,000 to connect, if the developments at the north and south end of the village also connected, and $95,000 if they didn't. It would also cost the council $5.7 million to build.
The land has been rezoned at either end of Gundaroo for future housing developments; however, a development application has been received for only one and is yet to be approved by the council.
Mr Robb said the council had to consider affordability for residents to connect to the system and that it wasn't feasible, even if the two developments were guaranteed to connect.
The hall was filled with applause and a sense of relief from residents as Mr Robb gave his recommendation. A Gundaroo resident and the former Gunning Shire Council mayor, Lawrie Willett AO, said he thought Mr Robb was "on the money".
Speaking on behalf of the GASP group, Mr Hays said: "We are very pleased. Councillors now need to listen to the fact that the community and a professional have said no."
Mr Robb's recommendation will be provided with a report detailing the full results of the council's investigation into the village's sewerage to councillors today (March 22).
Councillors will vote for or against Mr Robb's recommendation at the council's ordinary meeting on March 27.
The report will also be made publicly available on the council's website today.
Residents can discuss the report with councillors ahead of the meeting and register before 4pm next Tuesday (March 26) to speak at the meeting.
"Our view is that council should listen to their professional staff and what that staff member is telling them because that's what they're employed to do," Mr Hays said.
"It's now very clear that there is no financial case for sewerage and that adds to the fact that there's no need for sewerage in Gundaroo."
- Find the report online at yassvalley.nsw.gov.au or call 6226 1477 to register to speak at the council's next meeting.
