I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is investing $15.8 m to improve water supply and wastewater systems in the Jervis Bay Territory (JBT).
This funding will be used to progress the connection of JBT to the Shoalhaven City Council water supply and investigate the feasibility of connecting existing wastewater systems to the Shoalhaven City Council reticulated network.
The Commonwealth-owned water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant in the JBT are critical assets, which are now aged and will need to be replaced in the coming years.
Connecting the JBT to the neighbouring Shoalhaven water network will provide a cost‑efficient and sustainable solution to delivering water in the JBT while providing a range of benefits to the community, particularly improving potable water quality and reliability.
This approach will also support any future economic and population growth in the Wreck Bay community and the JBT more broadly.
It provides an opportunity to decommission the water infrastructure at Lake Windemere and to work in partnership with the local Wreck Bay Aboriginal community on the future of this culturally significant site.
Shoalhaven City Council has an excellent record in the delivery of water and wastewater services to its community. Its offer to partner with the Australian Government to deliver water services to the JBT residents is greatly appreciated.
Work has already commenced on the design options for the water connection to Shoalhaven City Council and it is expected that the infrastructure works for this will commence in the 2022-23 financial year.
If investigations show connection to the Shoalhaven City Council wastewater network is feasible, a full design and stakeholder consultation process will be progressed.
Environmental issues are being thoroughly considered as part of the design process for water and wastewater connection.
Community and stakeholder engagement will continue, following initial consultation which has occurred on the project with Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, Parks Australia and Defence.
This investment demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to the sustainable future of the JBT and its community, and the ongoing delivery of high-quality essential services and infrastructure.
