As the Courier-Sun goes to print, an Extra Ordinary Meeting of Council was being called for Wednesday to discuss the sewage project, reports on an Independent Review of public complaints received from the Ombudsman and recommendations for a way forward.

A 28-page agenda report released by Council on Friday updated developments including the revised cost of the project which now stands at $771,500.

By the end of March a total of 22 of 41 properties were connected to the sewer system at an average cost per household of $10,480, or 14 per cent higher than the 2011 estimate. 

Of the 18 properties unconnected, seven have verbally indicated they wish to proceed with installation as soon as possible, “a number of others” have indicated a willingness to connect but want to negotiate the price while a “small number” say they are not willing or cannot afford to connect, the report says.

However, Council has ruled out any new negotiations on price and instead offered property owners the option of engaging their own approved contractor to undertake installation or take advantage of a loan facility for property owners experiencing financial hardship. 

Council is keeping open the option of “enforcement measures” details of which were discussed in closed session.

“Allowing property owners to use this option now prior to enforcement action being taken may address some of the concerns in relation to costs that have been raised by some property owners,” it said. 

A complaint to the Ombudsman alleging corruption and misconduct by the Council in relation to the tendering process found “no evidence of corrupt conduct” but did identify some “poor administration” of the scheme.  It is now expected that the work will be completed by October/November.

Dissenting property owners say some Newry Island residents face bills of up to $18,000 to connect to the council sewer system which involves the installation of individual sewer pump stations on their land.

The sewer extension scheme followed a 2008 decision by the New South Wales government ordering the Kalang River closed to commercial oyster farming after an outbreak of gastroenteritis whose source was traced to either the Council’s Urunga sewage treatment plant, holiday cabins, two caravan parks adjacent to the river.

In January council officers and the mayor, Mark Troy, met with a member of the public and three Newry Island residents to discuss a range of concerns arising from the proposed sewer network extension.

The meeting included a complaint of corruption and allegations of misconduct and legislative breaches by Bellingen Shire Council.