Goughs Bay Water-Sensitive Town Plan

Published on 23 March 2023

Funding of $157,000 has been secured by Mansfield Shire Council to assist with the Goughs Bay Water-Sensitive Town Plan. This project is supported by the Victorian Government. The Plan will provide a feasibility study for an alternative solution to Goughs Bay’s existing challenges in wastewater management.

Goughs Bay is an unsewered town and existing wastewater management has potential health, amenity, and environmental risks. Historically, a lack of sewerage in Goughs Bay has constrained both commercial and residential development within the township. This was raised as a key issue of concern for local property owners at a recent community meeting held at Goughs Bay.

A collaborative, integrated water management approach will be used to inform this feasibility study, which will identify and assess options for the collection, treatment, and reuse of wastewater, and diversifying Goughs Bay’s water sources. This will include assessments, identification of options, and community engagement, before refinement and preparation of a final feasibility report and concept water-sensitive town plan.

Mayor Cr James Tehan said advocating for the provision of sewerage to Goughs Bay has been an ongoing priority for Council and the Goughs Bay community.

“The Goughs Bay Water-Sensitive Town Plan will be a significant step towards improving the town’s challenges in wastewater management,” he said.

“Funding for this project has been welcomed by the Goughs Bay community and Council looks forward to collaborating with experts and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and sustainable town plan.”

The concept town plan will outline the identified wastewater management solution to ensure that Goughs Bay water is managed effectively, while considering environmental, cultural, economic, and social factors in the area.

Water is central to the lifestyle of the Goughs Bay community and with increased visitation over summer it is important that the health of the water is maintained. This work will contribute to building a safer, more vibrant, and long-term sustainable community for Goughs Bay.

The project is co-funded with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) funding $117,520 through the Integrated Water Management (IWM) grant program which co-invests in priority IWM projects identified by the IWM Forums. These priority projects aim to deliver a variety of water related outcomes and improve the resilience and liveability of our cities and towns as they grow and adapt and to climate change An additional $10,000 has been funded by Goulburn Valley Water (GVW), with a further $11,180 contributed by Council, and an in-kind contribution of $8,300.

Mansfield Shire Council will manage and deliver this project on the community’s behalf in collaboration with DEECA, GVW, Goulburn Murray Water, Goulburn-Broken CMA, Environment Protection Authority, Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation, and the Goughs Bay Area Progress Association.

Consultancy work on the plan is scheduled to start at the end of March, with community engagement sessions planned for the end of June. Project completion is anticipated in May 2024.

For further information, please contact Council’s Capital Works team at council@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5775 8555.