Southern Beaches Onsite Wastewater & Stormwater Strategy

Our Consultant has now provided a report to outline our proposed Strategy for the future, detailing how onsite wastewater and stormwater will be managed in the Southern Beaches. The aim of this Strategy is to protect public health and the environment, and assist with long term planning for the Southern Beaches community.

The Strategy provides advice on the suitability of on-site wastewater and stormwater and includes recommendations on design standards, mitigation measures and management.

We value your feedback is a summary of the Strategy together as well as a link to the full report. Please read the summary before providing your feedback.

What Is This Strategy About?
The Southern Beaches area (including Lewisham, Dodges Ferry, Carlton, Primrose Sands, and Connellys Marsh) does not have town water or sewerage services. Instead, homes and businesses rely on on-site systems to manage wastewater (like from toilets and sinks) and stormwater (rainwater runoff).
This Strategy looks at:

• How well these systems are working now.
• What needs to improve.
• What options exist for the future.

Why Is This Important?

• Many homes use septic tanks or similar systems.
• Some systems are old, failing, or do not meet current standards.
• Poorly managed wastewater and stormwater can affect health, the environment, and local waterways.
• Climate change (like more rain and rising sea levels) could make things worse.

What Did Council Do?

• Reviewed past reports and studies.
• Conducted field inspections in December 2024.
• Held a community meeting and online survey in January 2025.
• Looked at local planning rules and flood maps of the area.

What Did They Find?

• No plans from TasWater to provide sewerage or water services in the next 50 years.
• Most septic tank systems work okay, but some are failing – especially older ones or those on small blocks.
• Stormwater from houses is often unmanaged, especially in flood-prone areas.
• Community concerns include large houses on small blocks and lack of oversight.

Key Recommendations

1. Improve oversight:

• Council and qualified professionals should work more closely to assess and approve systems.
• Better training for Council staff.

2. Update planning rules:

• Update the Southern Beaches Onsite Wastewater and Stormwater management special area plan.
• Make sure new developments have enough space for wastewater and stormwater systems.
• Encourage secondary treatment systems, such as aerated wastewater treatment systems, for new development and for fixing failing septic tank systems.
• Use a risk-based approach to determine an appropriate location for wastewater absorption areas, particularly on small lots and for rectifying failing systems.

3.Treat wastewater and stormwater designs together:

• Design systems that consider both types of water.
• Avoid overlap between wastewater and stormwater areas on properties.

4. Audit and monitor systems:

• Regular checks of existing systems to ensure they are operating correctly.
• Consider adopting an inspection program.

5. Dodges Ferry commercial area:

• Explore a shared wastewater system for businesses.
• Options include small-scale treatment plants and reuse of treated water for irrigation.

6. Climate change planning:

• Prepare for more rain and higher groundwater.
• Avoid development in flood-prone areas.

What Happens Next?

The strategy will help guide:

• Future planning decisions.
• The development of the Southern Beaches Structure Plan.
• Possible changes to the Special Area Plan for wastewater and stormwater.

Community Role

Residents can:

• Maintain their systems properly.
• Consider upgrading old septic tank systems to aerated wastewater treatment systems
• Connect water tank overflows to Council stormwater systems or on-site absorption.
• In areas prone to flooding and/or where no Council stormwater systems exist, consider larger or multiple tank water tanks to increase stormwater storage.
• Be aware of planning rules before building or renovating.
• Participate in future consultations.

Full Consultant’s Report – Southern Beaches Onsite Wastewater & Stormwater Strategy full report

We invite your feedback on the form below:

Feedback closes on Tuesday 30 September 2025