Have your say on Draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan

Published on 24 July 2025

Sewage isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun topic for discussion, but Loddon Shire Council wants to hear your views on an important public health issue.

Council decided at its July monthly meeting to send the Draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP) 2025-2030 out for public comment.

The Plan is intended to replace the Domestic Wastewater Management Plan and focuses on the risks that onsite wastewater management systems (such as, but not limited to septic tanks) present in Loddon Shire and shapes Council’s activities in managing those risks now and into the future.

It updates the Domestic Wastewater Management Plan to reflect legislative, policy and guidance changes since 2019 and aims to improve the protection of human and environmental health.

The OWMP covers the municipality but excludes premises with sewage flow rates above 5,000 litres per day and properties connected to reticulated sewerage (Wedderburn, Inglewood, Bridgewater, Boort and Pyramid Hill).

Townships within the scope of the OWMP include Dingee, Eddington, Korong Vale, Laanecoorie, Mitiamo, Newbridge, Serpentine and Tarnagulla.

Properties outside of these towns are considered rural and do not form part of the risk assessment process used to develop the OWMP.

They are considered lower risk and applications for onsite wastewater management are dealt with on an individual basis.

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub encouraged the public to have their say on the plan.

“This is an important plan, particularly for those in our smaller communities who are affected, and we’d like to hear from you before we make a final decision,” he said.

To have your say on the Draft OWMP, please visit the project page.