The treatment plant and storage lagoon is situated behind the Council Works Depot on Kessell Road.

The $2.8million project was funded by the Alexandrina Council with $690,000 in funding provided by the Australia Water Fund administered by the National Water Commission.

The treatment plant is designed for wastewater inflows of up to 1.5 megalitres per day and will cater for Goolwa’s anticipated growth over the next 20 years.

Invited guests, including the Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald, the Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick and Yankalilla Mayor Peter Whitford, were also taken on a tour of the plant, and shown the 80-megalitre storage lagoon that is being used to store wastewater during the winter months and used on a turf farm on Boettcher Road.

The Alexandrina Mayor, Kym McHugh, addressed the crowd on Tuesday, saying it was an “exciting day” that “marked the end of an eight-year journey”.

He explained the financial gain the council will get from its lease with the turf farm will help pay off the council’s significant financial input.

Ms Maywald congratulated the council on its efforts in getting the project done and secured for future generations.

“I really congratulate the council for what you have been able to achieve,” Ms Maywald said.

“To achieve something this big, this integrated and this innovative is terrific.”