FURTHER FUNDING SECURED FOR CWMS EXTENSION
MEDIA RELEASE - 6 FEBRUARY 2026
Picture: Mayor Jeff Pope pictured at the existing Community Wastewater Management System treatment plant.
Kingston District Council has secured further funding from the State Government funded CWMS Program, which is delivered by the Local Government Association of South Australia, to undertake detailed design work for the extension of the Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) into the Rosetown, Wyomi and Pinks Beach areas.
Indicative CWMS funding is currently estimated at approximately $18.5 million, based on concept design, and will be updated once detailed design costings are finalised.
The proposed extension will address identified groundwater, environmental and public health risks, while also supporting future development of vacant land that is currently constrained to holding tanks due to bore proximity and small allotment sizes.
The project will also reduce the risk of failure of ageing septic systems currently operating as on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Without CWMS, many property owners would face significant capital costs to replace failing systems or, where regulatory requirements apply, install holding tanks with ongoing and costly pump-out requirements.
Detailed design is expected to be completed by late June 2026, ahead of consideration of funding for planning and construction of the expansion areas.
Property owner contributions are expected to align with SA Water equivalent pricing, which for 2025–26 is $7,448 noting that charges are reviewed annually on 1 July.
The 2026–27 figure will not be known until that time (for reference, the 2024–25 charge was $7,405). Council will offer payment arrangements consistent with previous community engagement outcomes.
The LGA funding is provided by the State Government under a 10-year funding Deed, which is now entering its ninth year.
Council joins the LGA in advocating for the renewal, increase and annual indexation of this important program, which plays a critical role in enabling essential wastewater infrastructure for regional communities, including the Kingston CWMS project and other upgrades and expansions across South Australia.
Comments attributable to Kingston District Council Mayor Jeff Pope
This important project is a key objective identified in Council’s strategic plan and which will not only address critical environmental health issues, but also trigger new development for growth of our community, of which we are aware of demand.
It will, additionally, insulate current property owners in the extension areas against expensive upgrades of aged on-site systems and avoid further expensive holding tank requirements, due to the abundance of bores in Kingston near septic systems.
Council is most appreciative of being prioritised for the detailed design and indicative project subsidy, through the State Government’s CWMS program.
It would be impossible for our Council to contemplate such a significant project without the funding mechanism, nor expect community members to be able to absorb a cost over and above the SA Water equivalent pricing structure.
Update on Potable Water
Council continues to work with SA Water’s Futures Team to explore the potential for potable water supply to be extended into the CWMS expansion areas. No commitment has been made at this stage.
Should potable water extension become feasible, Council will provide further information to affected property owners, including indicative connection costs when available, and will seek feedback on community support.
Additional updates and information sessions will be provided as the project progresses.
Further information, including previous community engagement materials and FAQs, is available at https://www.kingstondc.sa.gov.au/our-services/major-projects/cwms-extension-rosetown,-wyomi-and-pinks-beach.
For enquiries or further information, please contact Mayor Jeff Pope (0407 114 700) or Chief Executive Officer Ian Hart (0408 809 712).
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Contact: Ian Hart
Chief Executive Officer, Kingston District Council
E | ceo@kingstondc.sa.gov.au
M | 0408 809 712
Jeff Pope
Mayor, Kingston District Council
E | jpope@kingstondc.sa.gov.au
M | 0407 114 700