Ararat Council moves ahead on “urgent” $407,000 septic tank work in Buangor and Mininera

Councillors in Ararat have voted unanimously to allocate $407,000 to two septic tanks, located in Buangor and Mininera, that are in dire need of repair and reaching “end of life”. 

❓ What happened: At the council meeting on April 29, the decision was made to assign a portion of the funds from the drainage section of the Capital Works Program to repair the tanks. 

The program, released last year, has close to $35 million in allocated budget. It’s aimed at improving crucial infrastructure throughout the rural city. 

Deputy CEO Phuang Au deemed the upgrades essential.

🗣️: “They aren’t the most glamorous thing a council deals with, but they are absolutely critical to public health and environmental protection”. 

👥 What people said: The motion was moved by Councillor Teli Kaur and carried unanimously. 

Councillor Kaur called the matter "completely urgent", citing both the age of the systems and their failure to meet Environmental Protection Authority  regulations or community standards. 

Councillor Peter Joyce welcomed the spend on the smaller communities, stating spaces like recreation reserves become a central hub in smaller towns. 

🗣️: “It's just great to see infrastructure being improved in our smaller communities like Moyston and Buangor. It's important that we are able to support them". 

Councillor Jo Armstrong endorsed the funding source as well.

•  "I think that's why we have reserves, so that we can draw from them in times of need. And this is just another example of prudent fiscal management,” she told the meeting last week. 

⌚What next: No timeline for repairs has been announced, though other projects funded by the Capital Works Program continue.