State Government funds vital sewage treatment plant upgrades
Published Friday, 29 August, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Cairns and the nearby Great Barrier Reef will benefit from a Queensland Government program that funds the upgrading of sewage treatment plants to lift their environmental performance.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall announced today that the Cairns Regional Council would receive more than $75 million to fund the high-priority upgrades of four council sewage treatment plants (STPs).
Mr Pitt, who inspected the Marlin Coast waste water treatment plant at Smithfield with Mr Wettenhall, said the funding was part of an ongoing State Government program worth more than $127 million.
“I’m pleased to announce that the Bligh Government has increased the amount of funding available to upgrade the Smithfield, Aeroglen, Woree and Edmonton sewage treatment plants by $27 million,” Mr Pitt said.
“This extra funding is on top of the $48 million that the government has already committed to upgrade facilities operated by the Cairns Regional Council.”
Mr Pitt said a statewide study on the condition of STP infrastructure identified a number of sites requiring upgrades, including 66 that were considered high priority.
“In early 2006, the Department of Local Government commissioned a study to identify STPs that would need upgrading in the next five years to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements as well as the impacts of population growth,” Mr Pitt said.
“In response to this, the State Government has already committed almost $100 million to upgrade 22 of the highest priority plants across Queensland identified by the EPA.
“This additional funding for the Cairns Regional Council brings the government’s commitment to more than $127 million and we will continue to work closely with other councils to bring forward the remaining high-priority STP upgrades.”
Mr Wettenhall said the upgrades would have enormous environmental benefits and improve water quality with the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
“The Reef must be protected for future generations and these upgrades will lift the quality of water being discharged into this sensitive environment.”
Mr Wettenhall said the STP upgrade project demonstrated the government’s commitment to providing modern and sustainable essential infrastructure for Queensland’s communities.
“With many communities around the state facing population growth issues and the deterioration of existing infrastructure, it is important that we continue to protect the health of our communities and environment by investing wisely in key community infrastructure projects across Queensland,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819: Barron River Electorate Office 4038 2800
Sewage treatment plant (STP) upgrades – funding summary
Bundaberg Regional Council (Bargara) - $3,303,226
Bundaberg Regional Council (Childers) - $1,260,171
Cairns Regional Council (Smithfield) - $16,363,846
Cairns Regional Council (Aeroglen) - $29,162,023
Cairns Regional Council (Woree) - $26,583,636
Cairns Regional Council (Edmonton) - $3,336,933
Carpentaria Shire Council (Karumba) - $8,780,200
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Burrum Heads) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Toogoom) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Hervey Bay) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Maryborough) - $7,000
Gympie Regional Council (Cooloola Cove) - $2,906,000
Gympie Regional Council (Rainbow Beach) - $2,906,000
Gympie Regional Council (Tin Can Bay) - $2,906,000
Mackay Regional Council (Bucasia) - $8,698,400
Moreton Bay Regional Council (Burpengary East) - $7,051,800
Mornington Aboriginal Shire Council (Mornington Island) - $1,836,000
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council (Palm Island) - $2,326,646
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Badu) - $6,340,000
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Boigu) - $1,673,000
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Murray Island) - $757,000
Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council (Woorabinda) - $899,000
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall announced today that the Cairns Regional Council would receive more than $75 million to fund the high-priority upgrades of four council sewage treatment plants (STPs).
Mr Pitt, who inspected the Marlin Coast waste water treatment plant at Smithfield with Mr Wettenhall, said the funding was part of an ongoing State Government program worth more than $127 million.
“I’m pleased to announce that the Bligh Government has increased the amount of funding available to upgrade the Smithfield, Aeroglen, Woree and Edmonton sewage treatment plants by $27 million,” Mr Pitt said.
“This extra funding is on top of the $48 million that the government has already committed to upgrade facilities operated by the Cairns Regional Council.”
Mr Pitt said a statewide study on the condition of STP infrastructure identified a number of sites requiring upgrades, including 66 that were considered high priority.
“In early 2006, the Department of Local Government commissioned a study to identify STPs that would need upgrading in the next five years to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements as well as the impacts of population growth,” Mr Pitt said.
“In response to this, the State Government has already committed almost $100 million to upgrade 22 of the highest priority plants across Queensland identified by the EPA.
“This additional funding for the Cairns Regional Council brings the government’s commitment to more than $127 million and we will continue to work closely with other councils to bring forward the remaining high-priority STP upgrades.”
Mr Wettenhall said the upgrades would have enormous environmental benefits and improve water quality with the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
“The Reef must be protected for future generations and these upgrades will lift the quality of water being discharged into this sensitive environment.”
Mr Wettenhall said the STP upgrade project demonstrated the government’s commitment to providing modern and sustainable essential infrastructure for Queensland’s communities.
“With many communities around the state facing population growth issues and the deterioration of existing infrastructure, it is important that we continue to protect the health of our communities and environment by investing wisely in key community infrastructure projects across Queensland,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819: Barron River Electorate Office 4038 2800
Sewage treatment plant (STP) upgrades – funding summary
Bundaberg Regional Council (Bargara) - $3,303,226
Bundaberg Regional Council (Childers) - $1,260,171
Cairns Regional Council (Smithfield) - $16,363,846
Cairns Regional Council (Aeroglen) - $29,162,023
Cairns Regional Council (Woree) - $26,583,636
Cairns Regional Council (Edmonton) - $3,336,933
Carpentaria Shire Council (Karumba) - $8,780,200
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Burrum Heads) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Toogoom) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Hervey Bay) - $7,000
Fraser Coast Regional Council (Maryborough) - $7,000
Gympie Regional Council (Cooloola Cove) - $2,906,000
Gympie Regional Council (Rainbow Beach) - $2,906,000
Gympie Regional Council (Tin Can Bay) - $2,906,000
Mackay Regional Council (Bucasia) - $8,698,400
Moreton Bay Regional Council (Burpengary East) - $7,051,800
Mornington Aboriginal Shire Council (Mornington Island) - $1,836,000
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council (Palm Island) - $2,326,646
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Badu) - $6,340,000
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Boigu) - $1,673,000
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (Murray Island) - $757,000
Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council (Woorabinda) - $899,000