Future-ready infrastructure for cleaner water
Rockhampton Regional Council has expanded the capacity of the North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant from 50,000 to 75,000 equivalent persons, ensuring the region’s wastewater infrastructure can support projected population growth over the next 30 years while protecting the Fitzroy River estuary and Great Barrier Reef lagoon. With more than 3,500 new residential allotments approved in areas serviced by the plant, the upgrade provides the essential infrastructure needed to accommodate sustainable regional growth.
The upgrade has improved operational efficiency through the construction of a new sewage treatment process train, along with upgrades to electrical and mechanical aeration equipment.
New effluent filtration, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology, and an effluent pump station and reticulation system have also been installed to maximise future effluent reuse.
The UV disinfection facility will remove the need for chlorine treatment before discharge, improving water quality outcomes and supporting future reuse opportunities such as irrigation. It also ensures the plant meets updated Queensland environmental discharge requirements.
By improving the removal of nutrients and bacteria from treated effluent before it is discharged, the upgraded facility reduces its environmental footprint on the Fitzroy River estuary and contributes to the ongoing protection of downstream ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The project demonstrates how investment in essential infrastructure can support regional development while delivering long-term environmental benefits.
The upgrades ensure the region’s wastewater infrastructure can support projected population growth while protecting the Fitzroy River estuary and Great Barrier Reef lagoon.