Beechmont Estate Expansion
Stage Two WWTP expansion at luxurious Scenic Rim event destination
PROJECT DETAILS
Location:
Beechmont, QLD
Product:
20kL Kubota MBBR
Capability:
Consult, design, and construct STP
Effluent testing and reporting guidelines are integral to ensuring compliance and sustainability in wastewater treatment projects. True Water completed Stage Two of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) expansion at Beechmont Estate. The team took a collaborative approach to prioritising regulatory compliance throughout the project.
Key objectives included managing costs, ease of maintenance, and ensuring fail-safes. The installation of a 10kL Kubota Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and a 3,060m² Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) Effluent Dispersal Area (EDA) helped achieve these goals. A 35kL wet-weather tank was also added to manage extreme rainfall events, providing up to four days of treated wastewater storage.
Beechmont Estate, a 75-acre luxury boutique retreat in the Scenic Rim, is just 45 minutes from the Gold Coast and near the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. It is renowned for its five-star accommodations and chef-hatted fine dining restaurant. Its growing demand as a boutique event destination made the WWTP expansion essential. Planning during Stage One enabled scalability under the existing Environmental Approval (EA), eliminating the need for additional council approval.
True Water pre-manufactured and tested all system components off-site, securely packaging them for efficient transport.
Below-ground installation minimises temperature fluctuations and eliminates visual impact.
Construction workers engaged in the assembly of a wastewater tank, highlighting collaboration.
True Water’s project management team ensured that on-site installation time was kept to a minimum.
Works underway for the expansion of the Beechmont Estate Wastewater Treatment System (WWTS).
True Water work on the Stage 2 WWTS expansion at the exclusive Beechmont Estate.
A group of professionals is focused on constructing a large wastewater tank.
Stage 2 of the project saw an expansion to the system's Subsurface Drip Irrigation Effluent Dispersal Area.
The Kubota WWTP was backfilled with precision, maintaining its small, space-efficient footprint.
True Water's WWTP blends seamlessly with the surroundings, preserving the estate's amenity.
The compact controller and blower are the only visible infrastrucutre above ground.
Effluent testing and reporting guidelines key to regulatory compliance
Effluent testing and reporting guidelines were a focal point during Stage One, which True Water delivered in mid-2021. This collaborative approach ensured regulatory compliance while focusing on scalability, performance, and efficiency. The Stage Two expansion doubled wastewater treatment capacity from 8,500kL to 17,000kL per day.
To accommodate increased effluent volume, True Water recommended installing a second 10kL Kubota MBBR Sewage Treatment Plant and a 15,000-litre solid-separation tank. These additions were crucial for maintaining high treatment quality amidst growing demand. Minimising disruption to guests during construction was a priority. True Water pre-manufactured and tested all system components off-site.
These elements, including the WWTP, blower housing, control box, and pump housing, were securely packaged for efficient transport. This approach reduced on-site installation time and ensured smooth operations. True Water’s ISO-certified technologies and project management team ensured essential sewage services remained operational during construction. The Kubota system now ensures reliable performance, easily handling fluctuations in flow volumes and concentrations.
Ongoing collaboration and communication with the regulator
Effluent testing and reporting guidelines remain essential for maintaining regulatory compliance. The existing ERA63 approval mandates strict conditions for sampling, testing, and reporting to ensure compliance with wastewater treatment standards. Although the system occasionally exceeds capacity during high-demand events, the original Environmental Authority (EA) remains valid for Stage Two, ensuring continued regulatory compliance.
True Water continues working with the regulator, reducing testing frequency and significantly lowering compliance costs for the system owner. The company’s proven compliance history and asset management framework contributed to these changes, simplifying operations while maintaining high environmental standards.
True Water’s asset management framework integrates innovative technologies to improve operational efficiency. The CONNECTmi micro-processor technology provides real-time monitoring of storage tank levels. The TELEmi remote asset telemetry system offers detailed performance data to technicians, enabling swift responses to potential issues. These technologies ensure reliable system operation and regulatory compliance.
Advanced asset management technology
True Water has developed a telemetry monitoring platform to specifically suit the requirements of managing wastewater treatment infrastrucutre. TELEmi employs mobile and satellite networks for 24/7 monitoring. This system enables True Water to manage six million litres of wastewater daily across Australia and the Pacific, ensuring uninterrupted service for clients like Beechmont Estate.
Working with industry partner Matalec Australia, True Water provide their CONNECTmi Controller to manage the preprogrammed operations of the system. It’s robust enclosure is designed for use in harsh and demanding environments, and is small enough to disappear into the landscape.
The upgraded wastewater treatment system at Beechmont Estate is both efficient and environmentally sustainable. Its compact design reduces operating costs and simplifies maintenance, while operating discreetly to eliminate visual and odour impacts.
By managing wastewater entirely on-site, Beechmont Estate protects public health and preserves the natural environment. This solution meets regulatory requirements and supports long-term infrastructure sustainability. Beechmont Estate now benefits from advanced wastewater treatment technology, enhancing its operations and reputation as an elite venue destination.
