Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive officer Kim Sampson said Summervale was a community of about 35 people, and you could forgive them for sometimes thinking that they get overlooked and ignored.

“At one stage it was bore water and septic tanks.

“Now all septic tanks have been removed and the community can access both town and bore water as well as town sewerage,” Ms Sampson said.

She said Summervale was one of 60 communities around the State targeted under the $200 million program.

“Walcha Council stepped in and carried out a great deal of maintenance and basic improvements,” Ms Sampson said.

“It was the regular maintenance that was missing.”

Walcha Council’s director of engineering services, Stephen McCoy, said when the council was contracted by the State Government’s Office of Water to carry out much needed maintenance work, it did so quickly.

“It was a case of once having gone in to ensure we continued our commitment to ensure the systems were regularly maintained,” Mr McCoy said.

“Summervale is a very small community. We have now entered into a commitment to ensure regular maintenance is carried out.

“We intend to honour that commitment”.

Ms Sampson said the community was delighted with the improvements that had incurred since the new joint program began.

“We know NSW ALC has put up $100 million of its own funds to ensure this program delivers,” she said.

“As far as Summervale is concerned that’s most certainly the case.

“The situation has improved and looks likely to improve further. Everyone is delighted.”

NSW ALC deputy chairman Tom Briggs said Summervale was the first community in the region to benefit from the water and sewerage program.

“Fundamentally, the scheme is designed to ensure that these 60 communities enjoy the same level of water and sewerage facilities as the rest of the community.

“Obviously the health implications are considerable,” Mr Briggs said.