Businesses in the Raleigh Industrial Estate will soon be able to connect to a modern, reticulated sewerage network, which will replace their land-intensive and restrictive on-site septic systems, and open up opportunities for increased business development in the Bellingen Shire.
Raleigh Industrial Estate, located close to the Pacific Highway and Waterfall Way in the Bellingen Shire, has been hamstrung because of its reliance on on-site septic systems. Not only are these systems costly to install and maintain, they take up a large amount of space, up to 1000m2 for larger systems.
However, according to Bellingen Shire Council General Manager, Mark Griffioen, the most important problem that the project is seeking to solve is that many businesses cannot operate with on-site sewerage systems.
“Many industries, such as food processing, beverage manufacturing and commercial laundries have high water usage and disposal needs which cannot be met with an on-site septic system,” said Mark Griffioen.
“Without modern sewerage infrastructure, these industries, and others, are unable to establish operations at Raleigh Industrial Estate, limiting regional economic diversification and industrial growth in an area of the mid north coast which already has a shortage of fully serviced industrial land.”
“In addition, this project will also enable Council’s Raleigh Waste Management Centre to connect to the sewer network, providing a more controlled pathway for managing leachate generated at the facility. This will reduce the risk of leachate exceeding the capacity of on-site treatment ponds during significant rainfall events, subject to the facility meeting all relevant trade waste approval requirements.”
Connecting the Raleigh Industrial Estate to the sewer network is Phase 3 of the larger Sewering Coastal Villages project. Phase 1 expanded and upgraded the Urunga Sewerage Treatment Plant, and Phase 2, due to be completed in late 2026, involved the connection of Mylestom and parts of Raleigh to the Urunga Sewerage network.
Bellingen Shire Council Mayor, Cr. Steve Allan, said that connecting the Raleigh Industrial Estate to the sewer network was a sensible and much needed step, and was an important investment in the Shire’s, and the region’s economic future.
“Situated halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, along the Pacific Highway, Raleigh Industrial Estate is ideally positioned to serve as a logistics and distribution hub,” said Mayor Allan.
“Not only does this project remove barriers for business investment in the area, it also supports regional growth by providing critical industrial land supply to meet escalating demand, particularly in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca, where industrial land is scarce.”
“Ultimately, this infrastructure investment creates a more competitive, resilient economic environment that positions Raleigh Industrial Estate and the wider region for sustained industrial expansion and future oriented growth.”
Early works for the project are due to start in August and are expected to take 12-18 months to complete. To keep up to date on this project, please visit our website: Sewering Co
