Goulburn's wastewater irrigation farm has huge possibilities

The city’s 1260 hectare wastewater irrigation farm has attracted more than passing interest from the private sector.

The council called expressions of interest last year in the holding but decided to wait for further investigations. 

At that time, staff recommended Denrith Pty Ltd and Kadwell and Co be awarded the expression for agricultural use. The joint venture had offered $4 million.

Since then planning staff have been investigating the site’s constraints and opportunities. A heritage assessment, flora and fauna study, land contamination and traffic/transport assessment have been completed. All up, $50,000 has been invested.

The land stretches from the rear of Kenmore Hospital over to Gorman Rd. It will be surplus to council needs once a $30 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade is complete.

The farm had great potential as an eco-farm precinct, staff said.

Bio-banking lots sit on a section north of the Wollondilly River but it’s also proposed for rural residential and large-lot residential.

Flood prone land, including a level crossing south of the river offers more opportunity.

“Potential uses include cropping, extensive agriculture or another passive, non-traffic generating use such as a solar farm,” a report stated.

Another section closer to Gorman Rd could be retained for “future cemetery use.”

In the same area, around Council’s wastewater ponds, a bird habitat is already flourishing.

“There is significant potential for this site and the ponds to be conserved, with further re-vegetation and site improvements for eco-tourism and educational purposes,” staff reported.

Finally, an area with Murrays Road frontage could be commercially developed for agtech industries, tapping into recycled wastewater.

Councillors considered the findings at their most recent meeting. It followed a briefing session in July.

Now they’ll press ahead with a further report. This will detail consolidation of several land titles, design options for road access from Gorman Rd to Murrays Flat Rd, advice on the level crossing’s long-term status, land use zoning for potential uses and availability of a permanent water supply for some sections.

Further, a staff working party will liaise with environmental groups and government agencies on possible grant funding and to assess investment options.

Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk praised the report’s quality.

“It’s very much in line with what I envisaged,” he said.

Mayor Geoff Kettle described the proposals as very exciting.

He hoped another company, Aodaliya, which earlier lodged an expression of interest had not gone away. It wanted to grow fruit and vegetables for the Chinese market.

“(But) I’d suggest it would be prudent for the new council to go through a fresh expression of interest round,” Cr Kettle said.