Councillors tour Yarwun WWTP upgrade

True Water met with Gladstone Regional Council Executive and Councillors onsite at the Yarwun WWTP as part of their annual tour of council projects. Councillors met with the True Water project team to discuss the Yarwun Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) upgrade and the progress to date. They were then invited to tour the facility and inspect firsthand the new and repurposed infrastructure. The council tour group enjoyed exploring the site and learning more about the project.

In 2019 when awarding the project, council made the decision to invest in a treatment solution that delivered recycled water and could be easily explanded in order to future proof the Yarwun catchment. The upgrade is funded by the council and the QLD State Government and is a key part of the QLD Government’s plans to set Gladstone on the path of becoming a renewable energy powerhouse.

Jim Mahoney, TW Manager of Design and Consultancy, met divisional councillors and GRC Mayor, Matt Burnett, and discussed decision to secure a long term solution. Only the highest quality treatment solution can future proof the project for the community. Discussion also focused on the site-specific solutions being utilised to meet project requirements and satisfy state regulators. Significant inaccuracies with the project specification in the initial design stages led to uncertainty. True Water helped fill the gaps and provided a design solution to keep the project on track.

“It was a very positive meeting,” said Jim. “I explained that our team take a collaborative, and common-sense, approach to problem solving which meant the project would be delivered on time and on budget.”

True Water’s Jim Mahoney addresses the executive group from Gladstone Regional Council.

The Yarwun WWTP upgrade project

Yarwun WWTP is owned and operated by the GRC and treats wastewater from the 26,934 hectare Gladstone State Development Area. In 2019, an assessment of the existing infrastructure identified a need for renewal. True Water Australia was engaged to design, construct, install, and commission the WWTP.

The works package includes the renewal of existing infrastructure and relining of storage lagoons. Additionally, the rectification and expansion of the effluent dispersal area is a portion of the project. The WWTP upgrade replaces an existing treatment plant that was undersized and no longer compliant. The new system will improve effluent quality, reuse the treated wastewater efficiently, and comply with all environmental approvals.

This is a joint funded project with GRC contributing $1.44 million. The QLD State Government tipped in $1.183 million courtesy of its Building our Regions program.

Yarwun Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade progress at the time of the tour by GRC Councillors.

True Water providing treatment solutions to the Gladstone region

Gladstone is starting to feel like a second home for True Water. In 2019, the team delivered a WWTP upgrade at Lake Awoonga. The WWTP is owned and operated the Gladstone Area Water Board and services a caravan park, recreational facilities, and homes. Lake Awoonga supplies potable water to the region so a reliable and robust solution was required.

More recently, True Water provided a site-specific solution for the 100-hectare Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM) site located at Aldoga. The $144 million first-stage development is a partnership between the Queensland Government and leading renewable energy company Fortescue Future Industries. The facility is a first in Australia and will become one of the world’s largest hydrogen equipment manufacturers.

The Yarwun WWTP upgrade works are scheduled for completion in 2023. Following this, the project will enter the commissioning and testing phase. Additionally, the True Water team will complete maintenance training for a group of GRC staff to ensure ongoing operational security.

With our team members in the area for installs and servicing, now is a great time for us to assess your project. We specialise in constrained sites, tricky conditions, and solutions designed for your site-specific needs.

Contact our team to discuss your project needs today.