16 February 2011

Sewerage options examined

| johnboy
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sewerage options

ACTEW have announced the release of their “Future Sewerage Options Review: Canberra Sewerage Strategy 2010-2060”.

ACTEW Managing Director Mark Sullivan said “the ability to effectively plan, operate, and maintain sewerage assets in a manner that meets community expectations, and meets legislative and regulatory requirements, is becoming increasingly challenging as a result of climate change and variability, population increases and other key factors”.

“ACTEW is at the leading edge with undertaking this sort of strategic review for the sewerage business and this report has confirmed that we are in good shape – that our existing sewerage system is appropriate for the ACT and with some modifications and enhancements will see us well into the future,” said Mr Sullivan.

“However there is a need to undertake further detailed assessment of a variety of issues associated with a drying climate and its impact on our sewerage services,” he said.

The report noted changes will also be required to enable ACTEW to respond to population growth, climate change, environmental pressures and other factors. Further work has commenced to enable ACTEW to continue to deliver effective sewerage services into the future.

The study considers many related aspects including:

    • How should the sewerage system respond to the effects of long term climate change?

    • Should potable water continue to be used in the sewerage system?

    • Are there new technologies that provide better solutions to managing sewage?

    • How should the sewerage system adapt to more households using grey water?

    • Can recycled water be used more productively in the ACT than in irrigation areas downstream?

    • How does the Murray-Darling Basin Cap influence the use of recycled water?

    • Can the sewerage system be changed to use less energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

    • Can better treatment and effluent quality achieve better environmental outcomes?

    • Can stormwater and roof water play a role in the future sewerage system?

    • Which emerging issues in public health, utility management or environmental concerns will require changes in current practices?

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olfella said :

Yep – especially when they put their case forward and we (the poor bastard paying our taxes) have no way of putting a case that would disway any ‘independent regulator’.
An example would be ‘ACTEW Managing Director Mark Sullivan said “the ability to effectively plan, operate, and maintain sewerage assets in a manner that meets community expectations, and meets legislative and regulatory requirements, is becoming increasingly challenging as a result of climate change and variability, population increases and other key factors”.’

Now how does any joe blo have any hope of fronting this ‘independent regulator’ putting a case together arguing against what is put forward?? especially when they have no initials after their name?

It is all a game and all the bases are loaded…

Did you miss the bit on the ICRC website where people are encouraged to make submissions to any of their investigations, issues and decisions?
Anyone can put a case forward to sway the Regulator.
If however you are saying that any Joe Blow should have his “thoughts” taken with the same weight as research by technical experts, well i’m sorry but that’s just not the way our entire society works.

chewy14 said :

Ah well, i did say it could possibly give you a clue. Apparently not.
So you think prices being set and audited at 5 yearly intervals by an independent regulator confirms your thoughts that Actew just raises prices whenever they want for their own pet projects?
Yep that makes sense.

Yep – especially when they put their case forward and we (the poor bastard paying our taxes) have no way of putting a case that would disway any ‘independent regulator’.
An example would be ‘ACTEW Managing Director Mark Sullivan said “the ability to effectively plan, operate, and maintain sewerage assets in a manner that meets community expectations, and meets legislative and regulatory requirements, is becoming increasingly challenging as a result of climate change and variability, population increases and other key factors”.’

Now how does any joe blo have any hope of fronting this ‘independent regulator’ putting a case together arguing against what is put forward?? especially when they have no initials after their name?

It is all a game and all the bases are loaded…

olfella said :

chewy14 said :

olfella said :

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/
This webisite could possibly (note possibly) give you a clue as to how utility prices are set in the ACT.
I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just made up.

Well Chewy, I had a look at your link and it just confirms what I am saying. All of those ‘reports’ wer the basis for price rises in the past. What they are doing now is buttering (thanks Chop71) us up for more!!

Ah well, i did say it could possibly give you a clue. Apparently not.
So you think prices being set and audited at 5 yearly intervals by an independent regulator confirms your thoughts that Actew just raises prices whenever they want for their own pet projects?
Yep that makes sense.

chewy14 said :

olfella said :

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/
This webisite could possibly (note possibly) give you a clue as to how utility prices are set in the ACT.
I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just made up.

Well Chewy, I had a look at your link and it just confirms what I am saying. All of those ‘reports’ wer the basis for price rises in the past. What they are doing now is buttering (thanks Chop71) us up for more!!

facet said :

I remember a report saying that sewage is a valuable resource.
Suggest it might be time for a “No More Sewage by 2013” policy.
Either that or a feed in tariff.

I guess that means I have to start shitting at home instead of work…
The ad jingle could be “Makin’ money just sittin’ on the dunny”.

chewy14 said :

Where does it talk about the expansion of the ACT sewerage system? And expansion for what, new suburbs?

Er, the entire paper is about expansion of the system. but if you want specifics, try the first paragraph.

I remember a report saying that sewage is a valuable resource.
Suggest it might be time for a “No More Sewage by 2013” policy.
Either that or a feed in tariff.

EvanJames said :

They keep telling us that population growth results in everything being cheaper. yet the electricity infrastructure expansion in NSW is the reason for skyrocketing power prices, and now the expansion of the ACT sewarage system looks like meaning significant price rises. I wonder when all this new cheapness will start to happen?

Where does it talk about the expansion of the ACT sewerage system? And expansion for what, new suburbs?

They keep telling us that population growth results in everything being cheaper. yet the electricity infrastructure expansion in NSW is the reason for skyrocketing power prices, and now the expansion of the ACT sewarage system looks like meaning significant price rises. I wonder when all this new cheapness will start to happen?

Chop71 said :

Yup, I am now all buttered up for a price rise….. thanks for the warning

Price rises already determined. CPI + 4.76% a year up to 2012/13

olfella said :

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/
This webisite could possibly (note possibly) give you a clue as to how utility prices are set in the ACT.
I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just made up.

georgesgenitals11:11 am 17 Feb 11

What a load of s***.

Yup, I am now all buttered up for a price rise….. thanks for the warning

I think this is a useful report. It seems to suggest that expanding on the existing infrastructure is the most economic and cost effective way to proceed.
There are any number of wacko ideas, principally coming from the Greens, that would be vastly more expensive.

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

I’ll give them a free tip: shit flows downhill…

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

One of the catalysts for this strategy came during the recent drought. Turns out that if people become more frugal with water (and install water efficient appliances) that the existing sewerage system becomes grossly ineffective at transporting solids. If there’s one thing I wouldn’t want to see it is a blocked trunk sewer main!

Good to see that a relatively low-key but fundamental service is getting proper attention before the fecal matter impacts the rotating oscillator.

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