highest-priority unsewered township in the Shire
A community campaign for Penshurst, Victoria
Our town cannot grow without sewerage.
Penshurst has homes, businesses, land and a strong community. What we do not have is the wastewater infrastructure needed to build more homes, attract investment and secure our future.
Signing takes about one minute. Your contact details will not be published.From Council’s 2026–2031 draft plan
Penshurst is already the first priority
These are Council’s own figures — not campaign estimates.
of assessed properties classed as unable to contain wastewater onsite
Penshurst properties identified as non-containment lots
recorded systems with serious or major failures
What is changing
Council recognises the problem. Now we need action.
The draft ranks Penshurst as Very High risk and proposes structured investigation with Wannon Water into alternative servicing or coordinated long-term management.
It also proposes continued action on known failures, legacy systems and offsite impacts. Council is formally recognising that individual septic systems are not a sustainable answer for every Penshurst property.
But it does not yet promise:
- A completed feasibility study by a fixed date
- A selected sewerage solution
- Construction funding
- A delivery timetable
Why this matters
Doing nothing also has a cost
Homes cannot be built
The draft says lack of sewerage already prevents dwellings being approved on a significant number of undeveloped Penshurst properties.
Property potential is locked up
Land that cannot support a dwelling, subdivision or changed use has less practical value. Waiting leaves owners with constrained land and no infrastructure pathway.
Businesses lose customers
Shops, trades, tourism and services need residents and investment. Without housing growth, our customer base cannot grow.
Our location advantage is wasted
Penshurst sits between Hamilton, Koroit and Warrnambool — a strong corridor for affordable regional living if infrastructure supports it.
For property owners
What the draft means for you
If your system works now
The draft does not order every owner to replace a working septic system. Council is not proposing a Shire-wide cyclic inspection program.
If you want to build
New dwellings and subdivisions face property-specific assessment. Small, constrained or higher-risk lots are likely to require a full Land Capability Assessment.
If a system fails
Council may require rectification. The draft does not commit Council to subsidising private upgrades.
This campaign is not asking residents to accept an unknown bill. We are asking governments to fund the investigation, publish real options and costs, consult the town and fund infrastructure that benefits the whole community.
Add your name
Petition for a funded sewerage solution
We call on Southern Grampians Shire Council and the Victorian Government to:
- Fund and commence a formal Penshurst wastewater servicing feasibility study during the 2026–2031 plan period.
- Assess reticulated sewerage, pressure sewer, communal systems and other practical options with Wannon Water and the community.
- Publish the findings, costs, funding options and an achievable timetable.
- Seek State and Federal infrastructure funding so the burden does not fall unfairly on individual owners.
- Recognise sewerage as essential for housing, business growth, public health and property value.
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Check the source
Read the Council documents
The facts used by this campaign come from Southern Grampians Shire Council’s published draft plan and accompanying FAQ. Download the original documents below.
Simple answers
Common questions
Is Council promising to build sewerage?
No. It proposes investigation, but has not selected a system, committed funding or set a construction date.
Will every septic system be inspected?
No. The draft says there will be no municipality-wide cyclic inspection program. Targeted inspections may follow complaints, failures or development proposals.
Are we agreeing to pay for sewerage by signing?
No. The petition seeks investigation, transparent costs and government funding. No property charge has been determined.
Is this an official Council site?
No. This is an independent community campaign based on Council’s published draft plan.