Thursday, October 31, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Cr Column Councillor Max Musumeci

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “you can’t polish a…,” well, you know the rest. This saying recently came to mind when I was speaking with our Water and Wastewater team, who highlighted an issue that’s creating headaches (and blockages) in our sewerage network: wet wipes.
While many suppliers market these wipes as “flushable,” our sewerage team assures me that this isn’t the case. Wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of blockages in the system, creating obstacles that disturb the natural flow, leading to maintenance issues, pipe breakages, and even pump damage. In the end, these issues drive up costs for Council—and, ultimately, for our ratepayers.
A simple way we can all help out? Just pop your wet wipes in the bin rather than flushing them. This small step will make a big difference in reducing blockages, saving on maintenance, and ensuring the efficient operation of our wastewater system.
On another topic: mosquitoes! They’re truly out with a vengeance lately, and Council are well aware of the increase. Council has plans in place and is preparing to conduct interventions to help reduce their numbers in our region. Keep an eye out for Council updates on mosquito management efforts in the coming weeks.
Working together on issues like these helps us keep our community running smoothly.

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