A third tank is currently under construction to divert treatment and give maintenance crews a chance to get in and attend to business.

“They haven’t missed a beat for 35 years. That’s a very long time, so they needs some maintenance,” Inverell council manager designate environmental engineering Michael Bryant said. 

“We’re going to clean them out and then do some refurbishment of them, concrete work inside and the floor of them and the mechanical works with it.”

Each existing pond is rated to treat a population of 6000, with two older ponds currently working full-time.

“The growth of Inverell is still growing, and the two tanks at the moment are at capacity, so therefore, for any sort of growth to happen, in the next five to 10 years, we haven’t got the capacity to handle the sewerage” Inverell deputy mayor Anthony Michaels said. 

“So with this tank, then that gives us 12 months to clean these two up, and we’ve got three tanks in work.”

The construction scene off the Ashford Road is a five-year-old boy’s dream, with excavators busy creating the a sloped-sided hole - a design to best suit pond maintenance. 

New lines will be laid from the initial treatment area where rags and debris are removed from incoming effluent.

It is piped to the tanks, where aeration units operate the aerobic bio-degradation system, using sunlight and air to eliminate bacteria.

When the treatment is complete, the treated water is reintroduced into the natural water system, and effluent is dried and currently taken to landfill. 

Coastal contractor Eire Constructions of Wauchope received the contract from Inverell Shire. Eire site engineer Mark Williamson said they specialise in sewerage work.

Mr Williamson said works are progressing well.

“This is the end of our second week on site, and as you can see, were well and truly established,” Mr Williamson said. 

“We’ve just about excavated out the major excavation which is the the tank, and the weather’s performing quite well for us.”

The job has established Eire staff on site for several months.

Sire worker Timothy O’Connor said once the pit is completed and had a final trim, with measurements down to millimetres, the hole will be lined with a series of layers and membranes and vibrated concrete to provide an air and water-tight seal.

“There’s loads of stuff to go in there, there’s clay, before we even place any concrete; there’s a scope of works that’s supposed to be carried out on it,” Mr O’Connor said.

The project is part-funded with a $2 million low-interest NSW Treasury loan, with the balance of the estimated $3 million project coming from council funds.