Businesses at Raleigh Industrial Estate will soon be able to connect to a modern reticulated sewerage network, replacing land-intensive on-site septic systems and unlocking opportunities for business growth across the Bellingen Shire.
Located near the Pacific Highway and Waterfall Way, Raleigh Industrial Estate has long been constrained by its reliance on on-site septic systems. In addition to being expensive to install and maintain, the systems occupy significant land area, with larger systems requiring up to 1,000 square metres.
Bellingen Shire Council General Manager Mark Griffioen said the project would address a major barrier to business investment by enabling industries that cannot operate with on-site sewerage systems.
“Many industries, such as food processing, beverage manufacturing and commercial laundries have high water usage and disposal needs which cannot be met with an on-site septic system,” said Griffioen.
“Without modern sewerage infrastructure, these industries, and others, are unable to establish operations at Raleigh Industrial Estate, limiting regional economic diversification and industrial growth in an area of the mid north coast which already has a shortage of fully serviced industrial land.”
“In addition, this project will also enable Council’s Raleigh Waste Management Centre to connect to the sewer network, providing a more controlled pathway for managing leachate generated at the facility. This will reduce the risk of leachate exceeding the capacity of on-site treatment ponds during significant rainfall events, subject to the facility meeting all relevant trade waste approval requirements.”
The project forms Phase 3 of Council’s broader Sewering Coastal Villages program. Phase 1 delivered the expansion and upgrade of the Urunga Sewerage Treatment Plant, while Phase 2, scheduled for completion in late 2026, is connecting Mylestom and parts of Raleigh to the Urunga sewerage network.
Bellingen Shire Mayor Steve Allan said extending the sewer network to Raleigh Industrial Estate was an important investment in the region’s economic future.
“Situated halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, along the Pacific Highway, Raleigh Industrial Estate is ideally positioned to serve as a logistics and distribution hub,” said Allan.
“Not only does this project remove barriers for business investment in the area, it also supports regional growth by providing critical industrial land supply to meet escalating demand, particularly in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca, where industrial land is scarce.”
“Ultimately, this infrastructure investment creates a more competitive, resilient economic environment that positions Raleigh Industrial Estate and the wider region for sustained industrial expansion and future oriented growth.”
Early works are scheduled to begin in August, with construction expected to take between 12 and 18 months.
For more information and project updates, visit the Sewering Coastal Villages page on the Bellingen Shire Council website.
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