MidCoast Council has opened a public exhibition for the Draft On-site Wastewater Management Strategy 2026–2031 and is seeking feedback from Forster and other MidCoast residents on oversight of approximately 13,000 on‑site sewage management systems across the region. The exhibition opened on 2 February 2026 and runs for 28 days.
The draft strategy focuses on protecting local water quality, particularly Wallis Lake. It shifts to a risk‑based “universal monitoring program” that prioritises inspections of systems located within 100 metres of a waterway and other identified vulnerability zones to reduce the chance of leaks or system failures. MidCoast Council says these measures are necessary to protect public health and the local environment.
A major goal of the draft is to safeguard the local oyster industry, which is valued at more than $20 million to the Forster‑Tuncurry economy. A preliminary risk assessment in the draft strategy identified approximately 520 systems near priority oyster aquaculture areas as presenting the greatest risk of contamination. The strategy follows long‑term planning under the Our Water Our Future 2050 project, which highlights wastewater management as a key infrastructure risk as the population grows.
Property owners in unsewered parts of Forster and the rural outskirts may be required to upgrade systems or follow stricter maintenance and servicing schedules if their current systems do not meet new compliance standards. The public has 28 days from 2 February 2026 to provide feedback on the proposed inspection frequencies and compliance arrangements.
The 2026 strategy builds on and succeeds the 2023–2025 approach, moving from a general monitoring framework to a harmonised, risk‑based regime across the MidCoast LGA. MidCoast Council says the aim is to ensure wastewater from unsewered properties does not harm local tourism, aquatic industries such as oyster farming, or the health of residents near areas without a town sewerage connection.
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