News
| NEWS HEADLINES | ||
| Article Name | Date | |
 |
Agnes Integrated Water Project enters construction phase | 18-01-10 |
|
Council approves initial works for Integrated Water Project | 04-12-09 |
|
Adelaide Desalination Project | 02-11-09 |
|
UUA participates in AWA National Water Week | 01-10-09 |
|
Northern Water Treatment Plant - Sod Turning Event | 04-08-09 |
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Adelaide Desalination Plant Doubles | 07-07-09 |
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UU Consortium Preferred Bidder for Adelaide's Desalination Project | 21-02-09 |
| more articles.... | ||
Miriam Vale opts for Desalination and Reuse
April 2008
Residents of a tiny Queensland community that can trace its origins back to the era of Captain Cook will be among the recipients of advanced water and wastewater schemes being provided by United Utilities Australia.
Seventeen Seventy Township located on Bustard Bay at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef was founded on the spot where in that year the famous explorer careened his ship HMS Bounty, prior to exploring the passage between the Reef and the coast.
The area has changed little since then – much of the land mass is now a national park where the wild bush turkeys after which Cook named the bay still roam, while the entire township itself is heritage listed.
As a result the provision of any new infrastructure requires particular sensitivity and care for the environment.
Seventeen Seventy township falls within Miriam Vale Shire which is located between Gladstone and Bundaberg in Central Queensland with its foreshores bordering the Great Barrier Reef Marine National Park. In recent years the shire has been experiencing substantial population growth, partly from those keen to exchange the stresses of city living for its relaxed and attractive rural environment.
A highly successful water conservation program which has delivered one of the lowest per capita consumption figures in the state is, on its own, not sufficient to deal with future water and wastewater demands. So the Shire Council has adopted a bold strategy that will both meet future needs and provide a new water resource through reuse of treated effluent.
This has led to the award of a $40m contract to United Utilities Australia which will provide and operate state of the art water and wastewater infrastructure for local residents.
The new facilities will service the population centre of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy township.
They include a new wastewater treatment plant utilising world-leading membrane technology. Treated water from this facility will be used for irrigation of Council reserves.
A reverse osmosis desalination plant, drawing from the ocean, will provide residents of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy township with a new source of drinking water, reducing reliance on local bores.
New potable water and sewage networks will also be provided under the contract. UUA will be responsible for the operations of the new and some existing facilities, including a bore field, water treatment plant, lagoon, irrigation and some distribution systems for an initial period of 10 years. Council has retained an option to extend the term for an additional five years at the end of 10 and then 15 years.
The new infrastructure will be provided in modular form so that augmentations can be readily installed as required.
Construction work is expected to commence in early 2008 with the new facilities being commissioned by mid 2009.