Nepean Park, Springwood Road, YARRAMUNDI

This is our newsletter that we publish  to inform the residents of Nepean Park of happenings and information concerning the Nepean Park Community. If anyone would like to have something published please feel free to contact anyone on the Executive Committee.

• Welcome
• Executive Committee
• Cautions and Warnings
• Working Bee
• Sewerage System
• Answers and Questions Asked by residents
• By-Laws of the Estate
• Home

Chairperson: Tom Begeng      4776 2523
Secretary: ..Sheila Coghlan   4776 2469
Treasurer: ..John O'Brien     4776 2432
 

Committee

John Apted        4776 2429
Jim Josephson   4776 2306
Steve Foster     4776 2540
Michael Watts   4776 2900
Sue Carey          4776 1078
 

Management Agents

Medium Density Management P/L   Ph 98387682

Back to top

Fortunately there are no cautions and warnings for this newsletter, other than for the ducks, water fowl and pelican that are now populating the dam. They are unfamiliar with the road rules and can be found wandering the roads.

In the approach to summer the Executive Committee will discuss the rationing of the recycled water. Unfortunately it is a finite resource and not self sustaining. After processing we get less out of it than what goes in due to pump out of solid matter, evaporation and leakage. Therefore, when planning your garden don't count on it for your watering supply. It is important to note that the recycled water forms part of the bushfire fighting management system and therefore rationing may be used to maintain adequate supplies in the system.

Back to top

NEPEAN PARK WORKING BEE

No working bees are planned for the near future. However, the Yarramundi Rural Fire Brigade may be doing a supplementary hazard reduction of some lantana near pump station #2. In coordination with this Helen Hackett is organising some replacement native plants typical of Yarramundi. The executive hopes to put together a working bee to achieve the planting.

Back to top

SEWERAGE SYSTEM

Community members are reminded that washing powders and liquids should not contain Phosphorus. Phosphorus is incompatible with the sewerage treatment plant (STP). Phosphorus has to be removed, by law, from the output of the STP. This is done chemically and costs a great deal of money to buy the chemicals required to remove the phosphorus. This is a cost that we can well do without.

The designer of the STP, Toby Fiander & Associates,  has written to the Community Association regarding the operation of the STP. Below is an extract of the letter.

• Avoid the use of dish-washing liquids and powders containing high alkaline salts. Look for products that say stating they are environmentally friendly.

• Use clothes washing powders and liquids which have low to zero levels of phosphorus and are biodegradable. The use of these substances will have the added advantage of reducing the operation costs of the STP in the long term, where chemicals are added to remove the phosphorus from the water.

• Use only biodegradable detergents.

Additionally, do not dispose of any materials like disposable nappies, cigarette butts, condoms, sanitary items, wrappers, newspapers, plastic bags and similar product into the toilet bowl. These products tend to block up components of the STP which adds to the operating and maintenance costs. Also, strong chemical substances and paints are not to be disposed into the STP system as they kill the micro-organisms that are an essential part of the sewerage treatment process as well as damaging the pipes and pumping.

Back to top

• The Infrastructure Sub Committee is learning about the operation and capability of the STP and is gathering together technical documentation, manufacturers data, plant instructions and maintenance contract details etc, so that a permanent “as installed” record of the installation is available for the future management of the plant.

  Due to concerns regarding the performance of the STP, a specialist consultant has been asked to provide a “Fee Proposal” covering a review of the design.  If acceptable to the Association, a report could be commissioned.  A number of items relating to the completion of the installation have been identified and these matters have been placed in the hands of MDM for possible referral to the developer.

  Certain mechanical faults have been identified and repairs will have to be undertaken.  The maintenance contractors will be instructed through, MDM to, to carry out these works.

• The reports of the STP chemical treatment contractor  (Water Care), have for some time indicated serious problems with the plant efficiency. The maintenance contractor, M W Fleming, wrote to the Association on 6/5/03 expressing great concern regarding possible storm water entry into the sewer system and requested that the matter be investigated urgently. 

  The Infrastructure Sub Committee initiated an inspection program and has identified a number of faults needing correction. The most serious fault found was an underground leak into a manhole pit where water was continuously entering the system. Of greater significance was the discovery that the water was coming from a faulty joint in the RCW ring main.  This together with repairs to two other broken manhole covers, have now been fixed and the recycled water will soon be turned back on.  Further work is ongoing and some will be required to be done in conjunction with proprietors of certain properties who we will contact by letter. 

  The STP continues to surcharge and again needed to be de-sludged. It is now understood that this is a normal requirement which should be carried out on a programmed basis. 

   Subsequent to the above the plant is now operating in a regular manner and a test carried out on the 18/7/03 indicates a vast improvement in efficiency. This work continues.

   

• A set of plans for the estate has now been obtained detailing sewage connection points on each Lot.  These plans also show the location of RCW mains and could be used to aid in the location of household RCW connection points. A copy of the relevant plan can be provided to any proprietor whose connection point has not been located. The plans are available through the Executive Committee.

• A long term mowing contract and request for tender have been drafted which will provide a two year mowing contract with the intent of streamlining the community land slashing process.

• A contract has been let for the repair of Access Way No 1.
  

Back to top

Development Act and the Community land Management Act. Past newsletters have covered; By-law 1.4 - Outbuildings, By-law 10.1 and 10.2 - Noise Control & Behaviour, “By-law 10.3 - Maintenance, Repair & Animals.

This newsletter we would like to cover;

By-law 10.4 Restricted Activities.

None of the following activities shall be carried out or permitted to be carried out on any lot, namely cattle feed lots, dog, horse, or cat breeding, boarding or training facilities, pig-keeping establishments, poultry farms, commercial aviaries or apiaries, broadcasting or television establishments, camping and caravan parks, commercial market gardening or any noxious or noisome offence or hazardous activity.

If you didn’t receive a copy of the by-laws from your solicitor please contact your solicitor in the first instance to let them know that they have been delinquent in their duty towards you. Failing that, contact a member on the executive committee to obtain a copy.

Although there is a set of By-Laws that provide guidance for the Nepean Park Community they are not the be all and end all of conduct and behavior in the community. We also must abide by the various state statues and laws. Therefore, such things as excessive noise, early contractors, wandering animals and unlicensed riding should be reported to the relevant authorities. In these matters the Executive Committee is not the relevant authority.

Back to Top

  That's all for this newsletter. Contributions can be sent directly to the editor, Steve Foster (funbuster@myisp.net.au), or through the Executive Committee.

July 2003