LAKE Macquarie City Council this week approved Johnson Property Group's waste water recycling plant to service 2500 new homes at Watagan Park Estate, in Cooranbong.
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The $2.5 million facility will purify waste water from kitchens, bathrooms and toilets than pump it back to selected taps for use in toilets, washing machines or outdoor areas.
Councillors voted six to five to approve the plant.
Among the concerns for residents are the plant's location, potential for seepage and odour, and loss of amenity.
JPG founder Keith Johnson said the recycled water centre would help drought-proof Cooranbong and reduce demand on drinking water by up to 70 per cent.
"I'm glad that the Lake Macquarie councillors listened to the council staff's advice," he said.
"You will hardly be able to see the centre from outside the Watagan Park Estate, and what you will see will be a great looking building that has been architecturally designed to fit in with the landscape.
"The centre itself will be fully enclosed so it won't make noise, and comments from some people that it will emit unpleasant odours are just false."