Onsite Wastewater Management Plan adopted

Published on 29 August 2025

Further improving Council’s commitment to protecting, improving and promoting environmental and public health in Loddon Shire has taken another positive step.

Council has adopted the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2025-2030 (OWMP), which replaces 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.

The draft OWMP was released for public comment in July and attracted one submission which focused on operational matters and did not require any change to the plan.

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said updating the plan was critical to ensure Council met its legislative responsibilities.

“The OWMP focuses on our understanding of the risks that onsite wastewater management systems present in the shire and how we might manage those risks now and into the future,” he said.

“This is an important plan, it supports decisions that helps our community stay healthy, keeps our waterways clean and ensures new development is safe and sustainable.”

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.

The OWMP can be viewed on Council’s website.