Fire damage closes Houseboat Sewer Pump Out System
WENTWORTH HOUSEBOAT EFFLUENT DISPOSAL SYSTEM CLOSED
On the morning of 22 January 2025, a small fire occurred underneath the gangway structure at the Houseboat Effluent Disposal System in Adams Street, Wentworth.
While the fire was contained by the local Rural Fire Brigade, the gangway and underneath pipework and services was damaged. Cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Wentworth Shire Council has had to close the system from future use until the damaged pipework and services can be repair.
Houseboat owners are directed to use the Dareton Effluent Disposal System until further notice.
Wentworth Shire Council apologises for any inconvenience.
Child Safe Standards – Wentworth Shire Libraries
Wentworth Shire Council is committed to being a child safe organisation, implementing the Child Safe Standards to keep children and young people safe.
Council’s new main library has by design created a child safe physical and online environment offering a balance between visibility and children’s privacy, creative play and other activities.
It’s been a great setting for programs over the school holidays.
You can read more about the Child Safe Standards on the Office of the Children’s Guardian website.
Buronga Landfill Upgrade
The Buronga Landfill site is currently undergoing a large expansion project. The aim is to ensure that Wentworth Shire has adequate space and facilities going into the future. The current site will operate as normal during this time, although there may be some minor disruptions to service during certain works.
TAFE NSW Coomealla Courses for the first Semester of 2025
Please see below flyer for TAFE NSW Coomealla Campus, including courses on offer for the first Semester, 2025. Along with these course listings are hundreds of online and virtual courses available for those wishing to further their education at www.tafensw.edu.au.
PFAS Test Results for Wentworth Shire
What is PFAS?
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products for their resistance to heat, stains, grease and water. PFAS are termed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence and slow breakdown in the environment.
Drinking Water Guidelines on PFAS
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide standards for safe drinking water. Current guidelines ensure water safety for PFAS, with future stricter limits under consultation.
The NSW Government rigorously assesses treated water to ensure water supplies comply with existing guidelines. For more details go to NSW Government PFAS page.
PFAS analysis for Wentworth Shire Council
Recent water testing by Wentworth Shire Council (December 2024) showed PFAS levels significantly below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines’ thresholds, confirming the water is safe for consumption.
Water testing occurred in all three of Wentworth Shire Council’s Filtered Water Supplies:
- Gol Gol (supplying Gol Gol, Buronga and Dareton)
- Wentworth
- Pooncarie
| Characteristic | Current ADWG value | Proposed ADWG value | Result for all sites | Meeting current ADWG value (%) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 0.560 µg/L | 0.2 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) | Sum of PFOS and PFHxS 0.07 µg/L | 0.004 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) | As above | 0.03 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) | No current guideline value | 1 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
These results align with the NSW Government’s findings that most water supplies, including regional ones, are well within acceptable PFAS levels.
Summary
Water test results indicate that PFAS concentration in all of Wentworth’s Filtered Water Supplies are far below both the current and proposed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, ensuring compliance with environmental health standards and continued community confidence in drinking water quality.
For more information:
- WSAA Fact Sheet: PFAS and Drinking Water (October 2024)
- WSAA Frequently Asked Questions: PFAS and Drinking Water
- NSW Government Media Release: NSW Government welcomes NHMRC proposed guidelines on drinking water and PFAS (21 October 2024)
- NHMRC Proposed Guidelines
- PFAS and drinking water – information and updates – NSW Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
- NSW EPA: PFAS Investigation Program – Contaminated Sites
Media Release – Investing in safer water for Wentworth Shire
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water released the following media release on 17 December 2024. For further information, visit nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dcceew
Investing in safer water for Wentworth Shire
Locals and holidaymakers in Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, and Dareton are one step closer to locking in safer and more secure water thanks to $472,000 in co-funding from the NSW Government and Wentworth Shire Council.
The investment will enable Council to identify the best options for upgrading critical infrastructure that delivers both drinking and non-drinking water to the four towns.
It’s a significant move towards boosting water quality, reliability, and drought resilience for the region’s 4,100 people and supporting the growth of outback tourism in an area where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet.
The new funding includes:
$161,250 from the NSW Government and $53,750 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Wentworth’s water treatment plant and raw water pump station
$192,750 from the NSW Government and $64,250 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Gol Gol’s water treatment plant and the raw water pump station supplying Dareton and Namatjira
Currently, Wentworth relies on a single pump station to deliver both drinking and non-drinking water to its 1,100 residents and a growing number of visitors.
But the ageing infrastructure, which was operating at its peak during the early 1990s, is now in need of a major upgrade to meet modern water treatment standards and demands, particularly during dry conditions.
Meanwhile, in nearby Gol Gol, the water treatment plant services about 3,000 people in the town and in neighbouring Buronga, Dareton and the indigenous community of Namatjira.
But parts of the plant are in dire need of replacement or repair, and the infrastructure has reached its capacity so will be unable to meet the towns’ water needs as they grow.
The raw water pump station delivering non-drinking water also requires an urgent upgrade.
The new funding will allow Council to launch detailed investigations across four schemes to find solutions and develop early planning works, including environmental reviews, geotechnical investigations, site surveys, and concept designs.
Options will aim to enhance water treatment process reliability, efficiency, and automation, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of major equipment.
The development work is due to be completed by June 2025.
The investment is the latest from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program which supports more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with over 260 projects in various stages of delivery.
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Development Lisa Hingerty said:
“This is about safeguarding water for Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton and Namatjira, and it’s vital we get the ball rolling on long-overdue infrastructure upgrades.
“This investment will help Council examine all the challenges for these five communities and find the best remedies to ensure water infrastructure is fit for the 21st century.
“We want to support the region into the future and as more and as more visitors come spend their holidays in Wentworth Shire. I’m delighted to see this work get going.”
Wentworth Shire Mayor Daniel Linklater said:
“We are pleased to partner with the NSW Government to secure the future water supplies.
“The upgrade of pump stations and water treatment plants is essential to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water to our residents and visitors.
“This much-needed infrastructure upgrade addresses our aging assets and represents a significant achievement in collaboration with the NSW Government, securing a sustainable future for our community.
“This funding is crucial for initiating preliminary assessments, which will enable us to develop and implement effective long-term solutions.”