By Jenel Hunt
The Southern Downs Regional Council has no option but to approve a new wastewater treatment plant for Stanthorpe at an expected cost of $33.5 million.
This follows the issuing of an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) for the upgrade of the plant after at least 13 contraventions of the Environmental Protection Act occurred between November 2021 and May 2022.
A report from council officers to the December meeting outlined a raft of known problems with the existing plant.
A number of non-compliances, which means that treated and non-treated water found its way into waterways – in this case, Quart Pot Creek – has raised environmental concerns and the threat of large fines.
The wastewater treatment plant was built on old technology and most of the equipment is about 60 years old, according to the report.
“The old technology is struggling to meet current environmental requirements as the standards are constantly raised. This is exacerbated by much of the plant being within the flood zone.”
Originally the Environmental Protection Order had a 1 December deadline for a concept design (for a new wastewater treatment plant) to be sent to the Department of Environment and Science but the council has received an extension to 31 January. If the design is not submitted at that time, it would put the council in breach of the EPO and could result in a fine.
A company prepared a feasibility study several years ago and the project was estimated at $13 million but the same company, now named Stantec, has provided an up-to-date feasibility study that puts the figure at $33.5 million.
At the meeting Councillor Stephen Tancred said that although it would involve ‘a big lick of money’, at least being able to charge for sewerage and for recycled water gave the project a positive business case for the council.
Cr Sheryl Windle said the council had known the work needed to be done.
“Yes, it’s a lot of money, but we’re moving in the right direction,” she said.
Stantec was appointed to produce a new concept design based on a Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) plant with an extra 10ML storage pond to collect diverted inflow during wet weather events.
The bigger storage would mean that the council could supply more recycled water than its current capabilities.
The report stated a BNR plant was sufficient, as well as being cheaper and simpler to operate than a more sophisticated system that could provide a higher level of treatment. A UV plant was part of the design, which would reduce the use of chlorine but increase the use of electricity at the plant, as would the additional pump stations, blowers on the bio-digestor and solid waste processing equipment that was part of the new design.
A number of options for the placement of the plant were put forward, but the choice was to put the plant in largely the same area but in a more flood-proof spot, siting it over the existing council stores building, storage space and a site used by Local Laws staff for holding found stock.
Should the Department approve the concept design, it will determine the date by which the new plant needs to be operational and the council will seek funding for the project.
