Major upgrades at the North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant (NRSTP) will help support an additional 25,000 residents and ensure cleaner environmental outcomes.
Construction has begun on a new UV Disinfection Facility at the plant that will allow new capacity to come online with an increase from 50,000 Equivalent Persons (EP) to 75,000 EP.
With more than 3,500 new allotments approved in areas serviced by the plant, these upgrades are essential to meeting growing demand and supporting future development.
Once operational, the UV Disinfection Facility will remove the need to chlorinate the effluent released to the Fitzroy River.
The facility will use ultraviolet light will be used to remove bacteria, supporting improved river water quality.
It will also enable the future reuse of treated effluent for irrigation and ensure compliance with new Environmental Authority discharge criteria introduced by the Queensland Government in 2025.
The new $9.75 million facility is jointly funded by the Queensland Government's Residential Activation Fund and Rockhampton Regional Council and forms the second stage of a broader $85 million upgrade of the NRSTP.
The UV Disinfection Facility is expected to be complete in 2027.
Quotes from Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland:
"The Crisafulli Government is accelerating vital works across our region so more land can be unlocked and more Queenslanders have a place to call home," Ms Kirkland said.
"The new Disinfection Facility at the NRSTP is a significant project made possible by the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund.
"The Crisafulli Government is pleased to provide funding so Rockhampton Regional Council can deliver infrastructure to keep Rockhampton growing."
Quotes from Mayor Tony Williams:
"We know one of the biggest barriers to new housing has been having the right infrastructure in place. Projects like this take that pressure off and help unlock future development."
"Our Local Housing Action Plan highlighted the need for investment in wastewater infrastructure, and this project is a direct response to that. It gives us the capacity we need to support thousands of new homes in the years ahead."
"This upgrade means we can keep growing while also improving the quality of water going back into the Fitzroy River."
Quotes from Water Councillor Edward Oram
"It is critical that our sewerage infrastructure can meet the service requirements of the thousands of people continuing to make the Rockhampton Region their home.
"We thank the Queensland Government for their support in the provision of critical infrastructure to allow us to meet ongoing demand and growth in our Region.
"At the same time, with the Fitzroy River the gateway to the heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, we are proud that we will reduce our environmental footprint and meet new Environmental Authority effluent discharge criteria."
