Kenwick residents are being urged to sign a petition calling on the State Government to provide deep sewerage to the embattled suburb.
The State Government’s infill sewerage program started in 1994 and by its conclusion saw more than 120,000 properties connected to infill sewerage, however 110 properties to the east and south of Kenwick train station were not connected, left to rely on septic tanks and often unreliable treatment systems.
Residents of these properties are keen to subdivide their blocks, however the State Government’s sewerage policy states that reticulated sewerage is required before land can be subdivided and developed, a policy consistent with the City of Gosnells Town Planning Scheme.
The cost of installing deep sewerage to the 110 homes was costed at $7.25 million in 2019, with the Water Corporation committing to fund and construct a main sewer link – 300 metres of large diameter sewer that would cross under Albany Highway and the Armadale rail line – at a cost of $2 million.
However, a State Government spokesperson said the delivery of sewer main infrastructure in the area will be aligned with the proposed extension of wastewater reticulation infrastructure under a developer-funded scheme administered by the City of Gosnells. – a scheme the city said in March simply does not exist.
Resident Simone Perkins, who runs the Kenwick Infill Sewerage Action Group, said residents have had enough of the inaction of the Water Corporation and Water Minister Dave Kelly, creating a petition in an attempt to bring greater awareness to the issue.
“This has been going on for a horrendous number of years, and we’ve got to the point where we need parliament to formally acknowledge why they seem unwilling to provide us with deep sewerage,” she said.
“They’ve supported Cockburn to do this, but we’re stuck.
“It’s tossed back and forward between local government and state government but we need some answers.”
She said East Metro MLC Brad Pettit was aware of the petition, but said that local member Stephen Price seemed unwilling to come on board.
“We’ve tried to go to Stephen Price many times but unfortunately, he’s not on board, I don’t know why.
“The city has been very good in relaying information and communicating with us but they’re limited in what they can do.”
Ms Perkins said residents were trying a formal, paper petition, with an E-petition a likely option if the formal petition fails.
Residents can sign the petition at Craig Marshall Mechanical, Unit 4/25 Hanson Street in Maddington.
