View the strategy

The draft strategy was on public exhibition for community feedback from 9 February - Thursday 12 March 2026. We received 186 formal submissions.

The feedback received from the community was considered and some changes and recommendations were made to the draft document.

The Healthy Land, Healthy Water: MidCoast Council’s On site Wastewater Management Strategy 2026–2031 was adopted by the elected Council at the 29 April 2026 Ordinary Meeting.

Feedback from the community was predominantly focused on the proposed funding model, perceived duplication with existing servicing arrangements, and the basis of the risk framework.

Based on the feedback received, the following actions have been updated and can be viewed in the attached Council report:

• a change to the funding model which recommends keeping the current flat service fee per system approach, rather than a risk-based funding model.

The recommended per system fee model is the same as the current model and accordingly will generate an annual income proportionate with what is currently received. The proposed inspection routine in the strategy is considered to be manageable utilising the current resource level in Councils Onsite Wastewater Management Team.