Water and sewer connections resume for small developments in Mount Beauty
14 November 2024
North East Water is pleased to announce it has resumed assessing planning permits for small-scale developments in Mount Beauty, Tawonga, and Tawonga South.
This follows a temporary hold on development approvals three months ago after North East Water provided approval to Alpine Shire Council for an 82-lot development in Tawonga South taking the existing water and wastewater networks to capacity. These networks, which were originally designed for small scale development, had previously averaged just seven applications per year.
Guy Wilson-Browne, General Manager of Planning & Infrastructure, said that North East Water has made a series of operational improvements to provide more capacity in the system ahead of major upgrades planned to be complete between 2027 and 2029.
“Planning permits for infill developments, comprising five or fewer properties, can once again be assessed and supported, and applications for greater than five lots would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis”, Mr Wilson-Browne said.
“Thanks to our skilled operators and engineers, we’ve been able to increase system capacity in the local water and sewer networks, enabling us to respond to community needs and restart approvals.”
Mr Wilson-Browne said planning for long-term infrastructure upgrades was also progressing well.
“A new drinking water storage tank for Mount Beauty is on track for completion in 2027-28, while a new sewer pump station for Tawonga South is expected to be operational by 2028-29.
“Township master plans for the region will further prioritise infrastructure upgrades across short, medium, and long-term horizons to support sustainable future development.”
Mr Wilson-Browne added, “We’ve engaged with landowners throughout this process, actively listening to their feedback, and we’re pleased to offer a solution that provides short-term relief, allowing planning permits to proceed.
“With an average of about seven applications per year for Mount Beauty and Tawonga South, we’re confident these can be serviced reliably until larger-scale upgrades are in place.”