Long Swamp sewage station still offline: no homes linked despite February launch

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has attacked the government for failing to link any households to the Long Swamp sewage pumping station, even as officials had heralded it as a landmark infrastructure project earlier this year.

Speaking on an NDP radio programme, Penn raised concerns about the administration's track record on project delivery. He pointed out that the transfer station, built to move sewage from East End and Long Look toward the treatment plant at Paraquita Bay, remains unused. "Not one person has been connected," Penn stated, questioning why the facility sits idle.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer held a commissioning ceremony in February 2026, where Dr Wheatley framed the opening as evidence his government was fulfilling pledges made to residents over many years. "Today's commissioning is proof that we are keeping that promise," the Premier declared at the time.

When the station was formally opened, officials disclosed that work remained: households still needed to be connected, and further testing had to occur before full operation could begin. The government has offered free connections to residents who sign up by December 31, 2026.

Penn is now pressing for explanations about what has stalled progress. "Let's get the homes connected. What is the hold-up to getting the homes connected?" he asked, framing the delay as symptomatic of broader execution problems. "It's about a plan. It's about the inability to be able to execute," he said.