The proposal includes installation of a water treatment plant, a 150 kilolitre treated water storage reservoir, parking and fencing near Herrick.

Dorset Council will consider the proposal to improve water service to the local rural residents at a council meeting on Monday.

In the council agenda, it notes the plant would have a net treated water capacity of 17 kilolitres per day (or 17,000 litres).

The proposal was intended to ensure a total clear water storage of 150 kilolitres per day for reticulation and firefighting systems in the Herrick township, the agenda says. The proposed site is on Crown Land at the junction between the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Road, about 1.2 kilometres from Herrick.

The proposal will be considered alongside several issues raised from two representations, including concerns there was an inadequate level of information provided for the proposal, a larger water treatment plant servicing more of the nearby towns should be considered for the site instead, and there was insufficient public consultation.

The town planner responded to each of the concerns raised in the agenda, saying the planning application had been publicly notified and advertised with the appropriate information in line with statutory requirements.

“The proposal seeks to improve water service provision to the rural locality, enabling further economic and social development that meets the needs of rural populations whilst not undermining or unreasonably confining surrounding primary industry,” the planner says in the agenda.

Approving the proposal has been recommended, subject to additional construction and environmental management plans being submitted to the council.

The proposal was received on October 19 from applicant Pitt and Sherry on behalf of TasWater and a decision on the plant is due by Tuesday.