Unitywater is helping to protect local waterways by maintaining strict environmental standards in its management of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and networks across the Noosa, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay regions, Queensland.
Since 2011, Unitywater has invested more than $168 million in significant upgrades to its STPs, including Cooroy ($19 million), Woodford (13.4 million), Burpengary East ($58.9 million), South Caboolture ($47.7 million), Brendale ($12 million), and, most recently, Maleny ($17 million).
The testing and monitoring of waterways has shown that these upgrades have been effective in contributing to lowering nutrient loads in estuaries.
Unitywater CEO, George Theo, said the utility will invest approximately $380 million in sewerage infrastructure over the next five years to cater for population growth and safeguard the environment.
“There are many contributors to the total nutrient load in our region’s waterways and other factors such as erosion and runoff are recognised as having a greater overall impact than our STPs,” Mr Theo said.
“Nonetheless we remain committed to a multi-faceted approach to improving the quality of our waterways and our hard work is paying off.”
Mr Theo said Unitywater had implemented a range of initiatives and invested in ‘green engineering,’ with a 30-hectare wetland and forestation project designed to trap sediment and recycle nutrients at the Maleny STP.
“We’ve also introduced an award-winning program to minimise sewage overflows in wet weather and we are working with the community on tree planting projects to reduce erosion,” he said.
“Unitywater values its partnership with Healthy Waterways and we will continue our efforts to help protect waterways across the Noosa, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay regions.”
