Fraser Coast revamps its sewerage infrastructure

The Fraser Coast Regional Council is commencing an overhaul of its sewerage infrastructure with work on two major projects underway.

Work has started on the construction of a 6.5km sewer main that will link the emerging Eli Waters and Dundowran communities with the Nikenbah Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council recently awarded the contract to build and test the pipeline to M&K Pipelines (Queensland).

Cr Jade Wellings said, “This new 375mm diameter rising main is the initial stage of a new trunk infrastructure network that will service an additional 4,500 homes and businesses that will be built across the emerging Eli Waters and Dundowran communities.

“The route of the works and location of the pump station was carefully selected to follow existing road corridors to minimise conflict with environmentally sensitive areas, and to ensure that the infrastructure is accessible to operate and maintain into the future.

“Stage two of the project, a new pump station and part of the gravity-fed sewer trunk mains, is currently out to tender.

“We anticipate that both stages of the project will be finished in late 2021, weather permitting, and support approximately 19 jobs during construction.

“The project is co-funded by the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions (BoR) program and council.”

State Development Minister, Kate Jones, said the government was proud to be partnering with councils and the private sector to deliver projects that create jobs.

“We are facing one of the most difficult times in our state’s history. But we know that to fast-track Queensland’s economic recovery, we need to invest in job-creating projects in regional Queensland,” Ms Jones said. 

“The Building our Regions program will not only create hundreds of construction jobs across the regions, it will create more employment opportunities for locals, helping small businesses in these communities and boosting industry supply chains.”

To date, the government’s commitment of up to $365 million has been allocated towards 271 projects across 67 local government areas in regional Queensland.

This work has supported more than 2,700 jobs and attracted additional investment of over $538 million from councils and other organisations.

The next stage of a multi-million dollar project to rebuild the Aubinville Sewage Treatment Plant at Maryborough is also underway.

Cr Paul Truscott said the revamp was about modernising the plant and improving its reliability, which would benefit both residents and the environment.

“The secondary settlement tanks have been in operation since the early 1970s and the plant started operating in the 1940s,” Mr Truscott said.

“The latest $5.1 million project includes refurbishing the secondary settlement tanks, a new chemical dosing system, a new sludge loading conveyor and roadway improvements.

“A backup generator will be installed to ensure that the plant can continue operating if mains power is disrupted such as during floods, which have caused blackouts in the past.

“A new raw sewage pump station and inlet works will be constructed and include state-of-the-art odour capture and treatment facilities.

“The improvements will allow the plant to be monitored and operated remotely if needed.”

The project also includes better lighting and CCTV equipment.

“In the next couple of years, Council will invest an additional $15 million in refurbishing and expanding the functionality of the Aubinville plant which services Maryborough,” Mr Truscott said.

“Ultimately the work improves the quality of effluent and reduces odour as the aging equipment is replaced.

“The project is part of Council’s commitment to reduce our environmental footprint and to manage waste sustainably.

“It is anticipated that the current projects will be finished by the end of next year, weather permitting.”

All works included as part of this tender and the broader program of works must be undertaken while maintaining normal operation of the existing facility and continuing to meet the requirements of the Environmental Authority.

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