Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo have been added to the NSW Sewage Surveillance Program, with testing beginning on Monday, 23 August.

This is welcome news, as the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), confirmed the first positive case linked with the current outbreak of COVID-19 in the District with exposure sites in Lake Cargelligo and Hillston on 23 August.

Lachlan Shire Council had contracted Melbourne based ALS Water to undertaken testing on the Shire’s three sewage plants at a significant cost to Council. This now means the surveillance of the Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo plants funded by NSW Health. While Tottenham has not been added to the Program, Council has committed to undertaking testing at the facility as promised.

“At this stage Tottenham has not been included in the NSW Health program, however Council is committed to protecting all residents in the Shire and will undertake testing of the Tottenham plant through ALS Water as previously reported,” Lachlan Shire Council Mayor, Cr. John Medcalf OAM explained.

“We are very fortunate that at this stage Lachlan Shire has not recorded any cases of COVID-19, but it is not a time for us to become complacent. This outbreak is spreading rapidly and is very contagious, so I again urge you all to comply with the public health orders, consider vaccination, and if you have even the slightest symptoms please get tested and isolate until you have received a negative result.

“Sewage surveillance is a vital tool for monitoring COVID-19 in communities and I thank NSW Health for responding to Council’s requests to be included in the program.”