Local s are pushing for a major upgrade to the Yass Valley Filtration Plant after decades of inconsistent access to safe drinking water and multiple boil water alerts.
Gareth Chisholm, who has lived in Binalong in the Yass Valley for 25 years, has experienced the worst of the local water supply through both drought and flooding rains. "They didn't publicise it that well … after about two or three days of being home I was so ill I couldn't keep anything down for days," Mr Chisholm said."They found that I had been affected by Aeromonas species bacteria — which the doctor explained to me is usually caused by dirty water or brackish water," Mr Chisholm said.)
Dr Burn told the ABC she saw a spike in patients presenting with gastro-like symptoms during the recent boil water alert. Often it results in long discolouration events for the community, where their tap water runs in shades of yellows and browns, accompanied by odours, taste and textures which can make it unpalatable.
Yass Water Filtration Plant manager Kuga Kugaprasatham says the facility is in dire need of funding to provide adequate water supply to the community.In an attempt to tide customers over, the plant received $2.2 million worth of minor upgrades in 2022, but the facility's manager Kuga Kugaprasatham said "it wasn't enough", and the community has since experienced an increasing frequency of boil water alerts.
In an attempt to raise the balance, the council applied for a grant from the federal government's National Water Grid Fund Program in 2023, but were denied due to an error neither the council nor the state government are refusing to bare. Even if the council's bid is approved it's still likely to be a long road ahead for the Yass Valley, with no indicative timeline for how long the urgent works will take.
It is similar to the money borrowed for the new controversial $50 million council chambers and library, which the council is adamant cannot be redirected to fixing the community's water situation. Mr Berry said the rebate would have equated to $3.64 per household to cover connection fees for the 16 days, which he said would not even "cover the cost of a coffee".
Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)
Local News Local Yass NSW Water Drinking Water Infrastructure Health Out-Of-Pocket Costs Cost Of Living Water Treatment NSW Government Yass Shire Council Valley Treatment Plant Council Chris Berry Drinking
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