RICHMOND Valley Council is inviting tenders for the detailed design of a new, state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant (STP) aimed at supporting sustainable growth and improving environmental outcomes for Casino and surrounds.
General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said the tender process was a key step in Council’s commitment to providing a long-term, sustainable solution for wastewater management.
Mr Macdonald said Council was seeking innovative and experienced companies to design a facility which met both current and future needs of the community.
He said the availability of a state-of-the art STP was a key enabler for residential growth in Casino.
“Government initiatives, such as the Regional Housing Fund and the Reconstruction Authority’s Resilient Lands program, have the Richmond Valley in their sights as a key growth area, with flood-safe lands around Casino,” Mr Macdonald said.
“Council has already identified up to 1500 flood-resilient homes could be developed at Fairy Hill, as it sits well above the floodplain, bringing people, jobs and growth to the region.
“As well, we have the NSW Government’s recent approval of the Richmond Valley Regional Job Precinct Master Plan which sends a strong signal to businesses that the Richmond Valley region is ready to host more job-creating businesses and investments, which in turn will drive economic growth.
“However, like most regional communities, our major infrastructure is aging faster than our population is growing.
“This means we now face a huge investment to replace these outdated assets and will need help from State and Federal governments to fund this reconstruction.
“This includes more than $100 million in essential water and sewer infrastructure over the next five years to replace the Casino STP, expand the Evans Head STP, and secure Casino’s water supply.”
Mr Macdonald said the successful bidder would be responsible for delivering a detailed design which optimised efficiency, sustainability and cost-effectiveness, while meeting or exceeding environmental parameters.
“It is vital the new plant has the required capacity for future growth, operated in a manner which reduces the risk of environmental protection license breaches, is flood resilient and is safe in all respects of operation and maintenance,” he said.
The tender process is open to qualified engineering and design firms with demonstrated expertise in wastewater treatment solutions.
Key project considerations include:
• Integration of advanced wastewater treatment technologies
• Energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable design
• Scalability to accommodate future growth
• Compliance with local, state and national environmental regulations
Interested parties can access more information on the Quotations and Tenders page on Council’s website