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Mackay Water Recycling Project

The Mackay Water Recycling Project (MWRP) is a major initiative of Mackay Regional Council that will recycle approximately 90% of Mackay’s wastewater to protect the Great Barrier Reef from over 250 tonnes of nutrients every year.

The initiative will also protect and rehabilitate overcommitted ground water resources at risk of seawater intrusion by removing 8,500 ML of demand on the groundwater resource and achieve a more productive sugar cane industry in the region.  The MWRP is the largest regional recycling scheme of its type in Australia.

Facts and figures

The MWRP involves:MWRP

  • Decommissioning of the existing 55,000EP Mount Bassett Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on Harbour Road
  • Redirection of wastewater to the existing Bakers Creek WWTP Site – involves 11.5km of 900mm pipe and upgrade/installation of key pump stations
  • Upgrade the Water Recycling Facility at Bakers Creek site to treat wastewater from 97,000EP and produce Class A recycled water
  • Construction of recycled water distribution pipeline from plant to 2,200 ML balance storage – 6.5km of 600mm pipe
  • Construction of 2,200ML balance storage  plus 27 on farm balance ponds (22 x 50ML and 5 x 20ML)
  • Distribution of recycled water through 22km of pipelines to cane farms
  • Upgrade the Water Recycling Facility at Bucasia WWTP to 20,000EP

Cost:

  • $154 million, proudly funded equally by three tiers of government: Federal Government (under its National Water Initiative), State Government and Mackay Regional Council

Principal contractors:

  • Mackay Regional Council awarded the design-build-operate contract for the construction of the water recycling facilities and transfer systems to the joint venture partnership of John Holland and Tenix Alliance (TAJHJV)
  • Council awarded the contract for the Recycled Water Distribution Scheme to local contractor, Ogilvie Constructions

Progress and milestones:

  • Construction on the seven TAJHJV work sites are all now complete. The February 2008 flooding did have an adverse affect on progress
  • The TAJHJV component of the project was completed in mid 2009
  • The 27 on-farm dams and 22km of pipelines constructed by Ogilvie Constructions as part of the Recycled Water Distribution Scheme are complete and filled with recycled water
  • The Recycled Water Distribution Scheme component of the project is complete and irrigation has commenced
  • The closure of the Mt Bassett Treatment plant on Harbour Road was completed in June 2009

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