Kempsey Shire Council awards Haslin Constructions $51.28 million wastewater treatment plant contract

Kempsey Shire Council has awarded a $51.28 million contract to Haslin Constructions for the design and construction of the Stuarts Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility will replace aging septic systems across Stuarts Point, Fishermans Reach and Grassy Head.

Kempsey Shire Council has awarded a $51.28 million contract to Haslin Constructions Pty Limited for the design and construction of the new Stuarts Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in New South Wales, Australia. The major infrastructure development transitions the Stuarts Point Sewerage Scheme from planning into execution, establishing a modernized pressure sewer network for the Lower Macleay region. Kempsey Shire Council serves as the local government authority for the Macleay Valley region, overseeing public infrastructure, water services and regional community development. Haslin Constructions Pty Limited is an Australian civil engineering contractor specializing in complex water infrastructure, bridge construction, and major public utilities projects.

Under the newly awarded contract, Haslin Constructions will undertake detailed design activities before commencing physical construction following final regulatory assessments. The new treatment plant will serve the coastal communities of Stuarts Point, Fishermans Reach, and Grassy Head by replacing aging on-site septic systems with a modern centralized pressure sewer network. The project is jointly funded through the Australian Government Housing Support Program, the NSW Government Safe and Secure Water Program and Kempsey Shire Council. The contract award follows the council's submission of its Response to Submissions report to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, ensuring construction readiness as final approvals progress.

This capital investment highlights a broader push across regional Australia to modernize essential utilities and replace legacy environmental hazards. Transitioning regional townships from individual septic tanks to modern pressure sewerage systems significantly lowers ecological risks to surrounding estuaries and water tables. By securing financial support from state and federal water security programs, local councils demonstrate how multi-tier government funding models can successfully bridge infrastructure deficits in regional communities.

For civil engineering firms and infrastructure investors, the contract highlights sustained public spending in regional water, sewer and environmental management sectors. Upgrading critical utility assets enhances long-term land usability and supports population stability in coastal areas, creating downstream opportunities for regional development, housing expansion and municipal service contracting.