Thrumster Wastewater Scheme

I am submitting a 7-page document detailing my informed and sincere objection to the so-called "Thrumster Wastewater Scheme." The name itself is misleading—this facility is not located in Thrumster, but in Fernbank Creek. It is clear that by referring to it incorrectly, the Council is obscuring the reality: this is a plan to build a sewage treatment plant in the midst of a sensitive creek environment.

Proceeding with this project exposes both the Council and the State to serious financial and legal risks. The location is highly unsuitable, posing a real danger of flood-related damage and accidents—risks so significant that insurance companies may refuse coverage or demand prohibitively high premiums. These liabilities, combined with the already inflated project costs, could far exceed the financial capacity of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and potentially lead to financial ruin for the Council, placing an undue burden on ratepayers.

Hastings Birdwatchers believe that there are some modifications to the operational and construction procedures of the project that are necessary to protect threatened species, in particular the Grass Owl . There are also additional threatened species with in the site that were not captured during environmental surveys.
Details outlining our concerns and requested changes are laid out in the attachment

I have made a detailed objection please refer to the attached document

I object to the Wastewater Project proceeding off Fernbank Creek Rd as per the attached files.

My objection is quite detailed
please see attachment

I have attached a Word document as my submission.

I am concerned about the environmental impact during the construction phase of the project. There large variety of bird species supported by the wetlands which will be directly impacted by this project.

Please find my written submission attached. Kind regards, Jennifer Berger, resident of Fernbank Creek Road.

Dear Port Macquarie-Hastings Council,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed Thrumster Wastewater Scheme, specifically the sewer plant site on Fernbank Creek Road, Fernbank Creek. As a resident of the area, I am deeply concerned about the environmental, flood-related, and procedural issues associated with this proposal.
Flood Risk in a Swampy Location: The proposed site is a low-lying, swampy area near Fernbank Creek and the Hastings River, making it highly susceptible to flooding. Historical flood patterns in this region indicate a significant risk of inundation, which could lead to operational failures at the sewer plant and environmental contamination, such as untreated wastewater spills into local waterways. I urge the council to reconsider this location due to its unsuitability for critical infrastructure.
Ecological Impact on Wetlands: The site appears to function as a wetland, likely supporting protected species and contributing to biodiversity. The PMHC’s own planning documents emphasize conserving high-conservation-value areas in Fernbank Creek. Construction here risks irreversible harm to local ecosystems, disrupting hydrology and wildlife habitats. I request a thorough environmental impact assessment to evaluate these risks and consider alternative sites with lower ecological value.
Inconsistency in Flood Risk Management: The council has restricted residential development in Fernbank Creek due to flood risks, yet this sewer plant is being proposed in a similarly vulnerable area. This discrepancy undermines trust in the planning process. While I understand the need to address sewage capacity, approving a plant in a flood-prone zone while denying dwellings appears inconsistent and prioritises infrastructure over community fairness. I ask for clarity on why this site was chosen and how flood risks will be mitigated without compromising environmental safety.
Lack of Transparency and Community Engagement: The proposal’s details, including site selection criteria and flood mitigation plans, have not been adequately communicated to the community. As a resident, I feel excluded from meaningful consultation. I request that the council suspend the project’s approval process until a comprehensive public consultation period is held, allowing residents to fully understand and provide input on the scheme’s impacts.
In light of these concerns, I urge the PMHC to:
Suspend the approval process for the Thrumster Wastewater Scheme until alternative, less flood-prone sites are thoroughly explored.
Conduct and publicly release a detailed flood risk assessment and environmental impact study for the Fernbank Creek Road site.
Extend the public consultation period to ensure all community members, particularly those in Fernbank Creek, Thrumster, and Sancrox, can voice their concerns and receive clear answers.
I support the need for infrastructure to enable growth, but this must not come at the expense of our environment, community trust, or safety. I look forward to your response and hope the council will prioritize sustainable and transparent planning in this matter.

I strongly object to the misleadingly named "Thrumster Wastewater Scheme," which is actually planned for Fernbank Creek—a sensitive environmental area. By misidentifying the location, the Council obscures the true nature of this project: a sewage treatment plant in a vulnerable creek ecosystem.
Beyond environmental concerns, this plan carries immense financial and legal risks. The site is prone to flooding, increasing the likelihood of costly accidents. Insurance may be unavailable or prohibitively expensive, adding to the already inflated costs. These liabilities could overwhelm Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s financial capacity, threatening economic stability and unfairly burdening ratepayers.

I am submitting Single page document detailing my informed and sincere objection to the so-called "Thrumster Wastewater Scheme." The name itself is misleading—this facility is not located in Thrumster, but in Fernbank Creek. It is clear that by referring to it incorrectly, the Council is obscuring the reality: this is a plan to build a sewage treatment plant in the midst of a sensitive creek environment.

Proceeding with this project exposes both the Council and the State to serious financial and legal risks. The location is highly unsuitable, posing a real danger of flood-related damage and accidents—risks so significant that insurance companies may refuse coverage or demand prohibitively high premiums. These liabilities, combined with the already inflated project costs, could far exceed the financial capacity of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and potentially lead to financial ruin for the Council, placing an undue burden on ratepayers.

I am submitting Single page document detailing my informed and sincere objection to the so-called "Thrumster Wastewater Scheme." The name itself is misleading—this facility is not located in Thrumster, but in Fernbank Creek. It is clear that by referring to it incorrectly, the Council is obscuring the reality: this is a plan to build a sewage treatment plant in the midst of a sensitive creek environment.

Proceeding with this project exposes both the Council and the State to serious financial and legal risks. The location is highly unsuitable, posing a real danger of flood-related damage and accidents—risks so significant that insurance companies may refuse coverage or demand prohibitively high premiums. These liabilities, combined with the already inflated project costs, could far exceed the financial capacity of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and potentially lead to financial ruin for the Council, placing an undue burden on ratepayers.

Submission and photos taken Tuesday 20/5/25 attached.

Too close to river. Flooding is becoming more of a problem. If the sewage is for thrumster, place it closer to thrumster. Alternatively upgrade current facilities

Good evening,
Please find attached, our objection letter regarding the Thrumster Wastewater Scheme.
Thank you.

I understand that there has been alot of development around this project but i believe the site location to be inappropriate.
The amount of fill required to make the site constructable should be enough to deem it unfeasible. This imported fill and construction traffic will affect the surounding wetlands by altering natural watercources and introducing new soil profiles.
This site was during the drought of 2019 when our area was fire affected, had a layer of bio material aka peat that burned for months, the council treated this situation by emptying megalitres of reclaimed water into it. I would speculate there would be significant damage to this site and to the infrastructure into it if those fire were ever to ignite again. causing catastrophic cost and environmental impacts.
More relevant to current environmental conditions we are facing (heavy rain). We have recently had major rainfall and overflow from our current waste water treatment plant into the hastings most notably causing a major change to the iron man course due to the river way being deemed 'unsafe for participants' due to bacteria and pollutants from sewerage. The positioning of the proposed plant would cause more direct overflow into the hastings river and the massive wetlands surrounding your proposed site. Not only that it will be over flowing into the private property of my neighbour's and my land. this is where we live, with our children, our live stock, pets, businesses, native fauna and flora.
We are currently being flooded. this happens regularly and will continue to.
The affect of the construction and operation of this facility will lower our property prices and i would consider to conflict with future 'rezoning' of our area. It will also cause impact on our business operation and safety of our clients due to heavy vehicular traffic causing noise 24h, exhaust and particulates. We collect our water from our roofs due to council in the past deeming our road to not require mains. i have asked in the past and was told despite spending thousands on fire fighting and drinking water that my neighbours and i would have to self fund the construction of a main and make a significant construction contribution. The irony to the proposed treatment plant burdening our homes, lives and environment during construction and operation is that we wont even be connected to it!
Please reconsider this whole project. We have just been ignored while objecting to the State government quarry expansion.

I object to the project based on its detrimental impact on the environment and animals (esp birds). Additionally, it will be exorbitantly expensive and there are cheaper ways to achieve the same result.

Please find attached, my personal objection to the Thrumster WWTP.

Attached is my formal objection to this project.

I am submitting hereby a 7 pages document detailing my informed and sincere objection to the so-called "Thrumster Wastewater Scheme." The name itself is misleading—this facility is not located in Thrumster, but in Fernbank Creek. It is clear that by referring to it incorrectly, the Council is obscuring the reality: this is a plan to build a sewage treatment plant in the midst of a sensitive creek environment.

Proceeding with this project exposes both the Council and the State to serious financial and legal risks. The location is highly unsuitable, posing a real danger of flood-related damage and accidents—risks so significant that insurance companies may refuse coverage or demand prohibitively high premiums. These liabilities, combined with the already inflated project costs, could far exceed the financial capacity of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and potentially lead to financial ruin for the Council, placing an undue burden on ratepayers.