Mayor Jay Suvaal is pushing for the connection of North Rothbury to the Huntlee sewerage network, a proposal aimed at enhancing infrastructure and addressing longstanding community concerns.
In a proactive move Mayor Jay Suvaal has proposed connecting North Rothbury’s approximately 290 dwellings to the sewerage network planned for the adjacent Huntlee development. The historic township of North Rothbury is currently connected to the Hunter Water reticulated water system but lacks access to sewerage services, with most homes relying on aging septic systems.
The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Department of Health identified connecting North Rothbury to sewerage services as a priority as far back as 2002. Cessnock City Council has been advocating for this connection for decades, including in its current term. North Rothbury was previously slated to follow Wyee in receiving sewerage services from Hunter Water. However, plans were reversed, and residents were informed that they would need to pay approximately $100,000 per block to connect to Hunter Water’s sewerage system.
The Huntlee development, which borders North Rothbury, is undergoing significant expansion. A planning proposal to rezone land and establish a local water centre is currently under assessment. This centre is intended to service the expected 7,500 residential and commercial lots within the expanding area.
Mayor Suvaal has emphasised both the economic and sanitary benefits of integrating North Rothbury into the Huntlee sewerage network, describing the proposal as a “timely and common-sense opportunity.” He expressed his readiness to collaborate with stakeholders and explore viable solutions for the community.
“I acknowledge that the developer of Huntlee is not obligated to extend sewerage services to the North Rothbury township under current approvals. However, I’ve written to the NSW Government to explore avenues to facilitate this connection,” Mayor Suvaal stated.
“I urge the NSW Government to consider the public benefits of this initiative and explore all mechanisms available to them to support the integration of North Rothbury into the proposed Huntlee sewerage network. I will be making these points when I meet with the Minister for Water, the Hon Rose Jackson MLC, to discuss this matter tomorrow,” he added.
In recent years, North Rothbury has become completely encircled by residential and commercial developments that have sewerage access, leaving the township as the last remaining population centre in the area without reticulated sewerage services.
