Further engagement on water assets following community feedback

After hundreds of signatures from residents denouncing an asset sell off, a southern suburbs council has revealed what will happen next in the process.

A southern council has admitted more due diligence must be completed before they could potentially sell off their water assets.

The City of Onkaparinga Council received more than 600 submissions as well as a petition, demonstrating the community’s desire for additional information into the potential sale of their water assets.

City of Onkaparinga acting CEO Julia Grant said the question of whether to divest had long-term ramifications for residents across the city, meaning the decision required careful consideration.

Julia Grant, The City of Onkaparinga CEO. Picture: The City of Onkaparinga

“The community has raised valid points that they need more information, this was outlined in the community engagement report as well as the community deputations during the council meeting,” Ms Grant said.

“The council has listened to those voices, which means undertaking a further round of engagement addressing the specific concerns raised by the community.

“The aim of this process is to deliver the most efficient service outcome for customers while seeking an appropriate return for council and ratepayers, but we also need to address the lack of wastewater services in parts of our city.”

Ms Grant said a number of potential public health and environmental problems were raised by the community, while also looking at ways to increase the amount of recycled water available for the irrigation of parks, schools and sports grounds.

Local resident and head petioner Don Chapman called the proposal out-of-date and said it failed to take into consideration climate change and the heightened cost of living.

Don Chapman is one of 600 Onkaparinga residents fighting to stop the privatisation of water. Pic: Supplied

“We are mind boggled as to why council are continuing to go down this road,” he said.

“We’ve been told that there will be not cost rises for the next five years … but what about after that?

“We’re living here for a lifetime so to many of us, five years is a very short look into the future.”

Since 2018, Onkaparinga Council has been toying with the idea to either sell off their Community Waste Water Scheme (CWMS) or to find a different management model and continue council ownership.

The CWMS disposes wastewater from about 4500 households and businesses in Willunga, McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat, Clarendon, Maslin Beach, Morphett Vale and Sellicks Beach.

Some of the sewage is treated at wastewater treatment plants the council owns at Sellicks Beach and Willunga, before being disposed to the Willunga Basin Water Company for reuse.

The outcome for the water assets will come back for a decision in 2023 from the newly elected council members following the November 2022 local government elections.