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Background

Central Coast Council continues to work alongside its customers improving the monitoring of liquid waste to ensure a safe, clean environment for today and the future.

As part of this work, Council updated its Liquid Trade Waste Management Policy to maintain relevance to industry standards and legislation.

This process helped Council to identify opportunities to streamline liquid trade waste processes. It will be put towards improving the way Council works with Liquid Trade Waste customers.

In 2021 Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) updated their Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines for Local Government.

In 2022 NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) proposed a revision in the list of liquid trade waste charges a customer should pay for the discharging of liquid waste into Council’s sewerage system.

Council invited the community to offer written feedback and submissions on the proposed Liquid Trade Waste Policy updates aiming to improve how we:

  1. Monitor liquid trade waste 
  2. Work with customers to improve the quality of liquid trade waste discharged 
  3. Provide an environmentally responsible liquid trade waste service to business customers  
  4. Protect our assets, workers, systems, public health and environment though enforcement and appropriate use of penalties 
  5. Communicate and interact with our customers to achieve better compliance and efficiency outcomes 

 

Have Your Say

Feedback was to be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Farmer by between 9am 3 April and 5pm 1 May 2023 via:

Your attention is drawn to the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 which allows for possible access to certain public and personal documentation. View our privacy statement.

 

 

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Timeline

3
1 May - closed for feedback
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Who's listening

Who's listening
Name
Melissa Coote - Team Leader, Trade Waste
Phone
(02) 4306 7900

FAQs

What is 'liquid trade waste'?

Liquid trade waste refers to liquid waste produced by a business, commercial or industrial activity. It excludes waste from washbasin, shower, bath, or toilet, and residences. 

What is the Draft Liquid Trade Waste Policy?

The Liquid Trade Waste Policy outlines the way we are responsible for monitoring and regulating liquid trade waste across the Central Coast Council LGA. It is also a requirement under the NSW Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines (2021).

Why is the Liquid Trade Waste Policy being updated?

In 2021, Department of Planning and Environment updated their Liquid Trade Management Guidelines for Councils.

NSW Independent Price and Review Tribunal (IPART) reviewed the prices for water, wastewater and other services supplied by Central Coast Council in 2022. This review rationalised the chargeable substances in liquid trade waste.

What are the objectives of the proposed changes?

The proposed updates to our Policy aim to improve how we:

  1. Monitor liquid trade waste
  2. Work with customers to improve the quality of liquid trade waste they discharge
  3. Provide an environmentally responsible liquid trade waste service to business customers
  4. Communicate and interact with our customers to achieve better compliance and efficiency outcomes
  5. Protect our assets, workers, systems, public health and environment through enforcement and appropriate use of penalties 
What are the main changes between the current draft policy and the proposed?

The revised policy includes the following four key changes:

  1. Requirements of Effluent Improvement Plans (EIP) to improve discharge quality
  2. A rationalised list of chargeable substances in the liquid trade waste
  3. Streamlining how we manage and administer approvals for multi-premise sites
  4. Improving how we monitor liquid trade waste discharge through proactive sampling programs and scheduled inspections
What is Council doing to help businesses understand their trade waste requirements?

Council routinely works with businesses to help identify their individual trade waste requirements. Our Liquid Trade Waste Team is readily available to respond to customer enquiries as required. Our contact details can be found at the end of this FAQs.

What am I responsible for as a property owner?

If you own or operate a business that produces liquid trade waste, you will need to lodge an application and provide all the requested information.

Applications and relevant details for various business activities in our website under ‘Applications and industry specific information and applications’. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/business/health-and-safety/liquid-trade-waste.

How do I know what the pre-treatment solution is best for my business?

If you are looking to install a pre-treatment solution to manage your businesses refer to applications and industry specific information on our website. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/business/health-and-safety/liquid-trade-waste.

Who is responsible for monitoring compliance?

Liquid trade waste compliance will be monitored by Council's Liquid Trade Waste team.

What will the new monitoring process look like?

To ensure the quality of discharge meets acceptable limits outlined in this policy, Council will be undertaking proactive sampling of effluent discharged into the sewerage system.

Once samples are collected, they will be tested as part of our monitoring process and the results with the customer to discuss outcomes and next steps as required.

What are the impacts of poor liquid trade waste management?

In the absence of suitable controls and monitoring, liquid trade waste may have adverse impacts on the systems, the environment and the health and safety. The impacts of poor liquid trade waste management include:

  1. Blockages in the sewerage system caused by grease, oil and solid material which can result in overflows of untreated sewage into the environment and damage to Council assets
  2. Odour problems and the corrosion of sewer mains, pumping stations and sewage treatment facilities
  3. Unfavourable impact on the health of the community and environment, including land, waterways and sea
  4. Prevent blockages in the wastewater system that could cause waste to flow into the environment, into the community or even back into your premises
  5. Health and safety of people working in and around the wastewater system including Council staff personnel
  6. Poor quality recycled water and biosolids, which may lead to limited beneficial use of these resources
How does this revised draft policy impact my current liquid trade waste approval?

In general, your approval will remain current unless any changes directly impact your previous approval conditions. We will contact you to discuss if any changes are required.

Who determines liquid trade waste changes?

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is responsible for reviewing and determining the maximum water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for major water utilities in NSW including liquid trade waste.

The fees and charges are then adopted by Council as part of its annual Management

Plan. An up-to-date schedule of fees and charges is available on the Council website and can be obtained from Council.

Council provides sewerage and liquid trade services on a commercial (user pays) basis, subject to IPART pricing determinations.

How can I find out more?

To learn more about the services we deliver to our community you can;

How can I have my say?

Feedback is to be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Farmer by between 9am 3 April and 5pm 1 May 2023 via:

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