A sewage pipeline connecting toilets at the Twelve Apostles with Port Campbell’s treatment plant has been ruled as the best option to keep up with growing visitor numbers.
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An 11-kilometre pipeline will be built under a Parks Victoria and Wannon Water plan to overcome waste management problems at the iconic site.
Parks Victoria said the decision came after a six-month engineering process and community consultation.
There were community concerns that Port Campbell’s treatment plant would be unable to cope with the increased sewage from Apostles visitors.
Parks Victoria infrastructure services director Chris Corbell said the option of installing new treatment ponds close to the Twelve Apostles visitor centre itself was explored, but a pipeline was found to be the best long-term option.
“Parks Victoria’s first responsibility is to the environment, which is why we have chosen a pipeline which best protects the sensitive national and marine park at the Twelve Apostles,” he said.
In October last year, Parks Victoria and Wannon Water hosted a two-day panel with Port Campbell community members to discuss the best sewage treatment options for the visitor centre toilets.
Mr Corbell said he was grateful to community members who took part.
“Parks Victoria thanks the Port Campbell community for taking the time to understand the difficult land management decisions which Parks Victoria must make to support a world class visitor experience on the Shipwreck Coast,” he said.
“Rapidly growing visitor numbers mean our existing on-site treatment plant is regularly breaching the terms of our licence with the EPA.”
The project will go to tender this year, with construction due to start in 2018.
In 2015 the state government pledged $4.4 million to find a solution to the Twelve Apostles’ sewage woes.
The sewage treatment plant at the site were subject to an Environment Protection Authority investigation earlier that year due to an alleged excessive discharge of waste water.
The Twelve Apostles attracts more than two million visitors each year.
