East Rockingham Wastewater Treatment Plant
As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable growth, the Water Corporation plans to build a new wastewater treatment plant at East Rockingham.
The East Rockingham Wastewater Treatment Plant is required by 2015 and will underpin further expansion in Perth's south-west corridor, which is currently growing at a rate of between 5,000 and 8,000 people a year. The Water Corporation's planned works for the area are expected to service up to 425,000 people by 2020.
The proposed location for the plant is about 42km south of Perth within the Rockingham Industrial Park 14, which is the last major area of land zoned industrial under the Metropolitan Regional Scheme.
The new plant will occupy about 31 hectares in the industrial area and there will be an environmental buffer zone to screen the plant and maintain an adequate distance to dissipate any possible odours.
The plant's initial capacity will be 40 million litres of treated wastewater a day, but there will be capability to expand to cope with demand. Ultimate wastewater inflows may increase to 160 million litres a day (beyond 2060), depending on urban development and population densities.
Treated wastewater from the East Rockingham WWTP will be discharged to the ocean through the existing Sepia Depression Ocean Outfall Line, which extends 4km offshore from Point Peron.
The operation of a modern wastewater treatment plant at East Rockingham will ultimately see the old wastewater treatment plant at Point Peron decommissioned.
The Water Corporation will work with the community on sustainable water management to provide for the future.
Community reference group
Water Corporation values community input to help guide its decisions. In keeping with this, a Community Reference Group, with an Independent Chairperson, has been set up to to provide advice on the proposed East Rockingham WWTP.
Local community members are encouraged to speak to the repessentatives on the CRG, who can bring their issues to the table for discussion.
Water Corporation thanks the following CRG members for giving up their time to be on the group.
Ron Kemp (Independent Chair)
Allan Gade (Care of Rockingham Environment - CORE)
Ann Prince (Rockingham City Councillor)
Peta Lennon (Hillman Residents' Association)
Meg Salazaar (Hillman Residents' Association)
Don Allanach (Homestead Ridge Progress Association)
Frank Shaw (Community Member)
Chris Tanner (Town of Kwinana)
Attached are the CRG's Terms of Reference.
Social Impact Studies
To understand some of the social impacts of the East Rockingham Wastewater Treatment Plant and how they could be managed better, Water Corporation engaged consultants Environmental Resources Management (ERM) to:
1. Undertake a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) to identify and assess both the real and perceived social impacts that may be experienced by the surrounding community and provide corresponding mitigation and management measures; and
2. Develop a Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) to provide a framework for implementing the recommended measures over the duration of the project.
Attached are copies of the SIA and the SIMP.
Metropolitan region scheme amendment report
The Minister for Planning has approved the Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment for the East Rockingham WWTP and the outlet corridor to Patterson Road.
Environmental referrals
Environmental Protection Authority referral and documents
The Water Corporation referred its proposal to build a new municipal wastewater treatment plant at East Rockingham to the West Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on 9 March 2011. The proposal was referred to the EPA for determination under S38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The comment period for the public to inform the EPA's decision on the level of assessment is seven (7) days from the time the EPA accepts the referral and publishes it on the EPA website. Comments on the referral information must be made using the Referral Comment Form available on the EPA website.
The EPA's web address is www.epa.wa.gov.au
Attached is the Water Corporation's environmental referral to the EPA and supporting documentation.
DEWHA decision and referral documents
The Federal Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) advised in November 2009 that its referral decision for the East Rockingham WWTP was "not a controlled action if undertaken in a particular manner."
Brochures
Presentations
