Multi-million-dollar revamp for Aubinville sewage plant
New structures are rising at the Aubinville Sewage Treatment Plant in Maryborough as part of a multi-million-dollar modernisation of the plant.
The revamp will modernise parts of the 80-year-old plant and improve its reliability, which will benefit residents and the environment, Cr Daniel Sanderson said.
Cr Sanderson toured the site today (June 22) to inspect progress on a $5.1 million project that is underway.
“In the 2021/22 budget, Council approved a further $8.1 million for works at the facility,” Cr Sanderson said.
“The funding is part of our commitment to planning and building for our future.”
The current project includes refurbishing the secondary settlement tanks which have been in operation since the 1970s, installing a new chemical dosing system, a new sludge loading conveyor and roadway improvements,” he said.
“A separate part of the project will see a backup generator installed to ensure that the plant can continue operating if mains power is disrupted such as during floods, which have caused blackouts in the past.
“Currently, a new raw sewage pump station and inlet works are being constructed. The facility includes state of the art odour capture and treatment facilities.
“The improvements will allow the plant to be monitored and operated remotely if needed.”
The project also includes better lighting and CCTV equipment.
In the past three years, Council has invested $12 million in upgrades to the treatment plant and a further $10 million is to be spent to complete the current projects.
In the next couple of years, Council will invest a further $13 million on infrastructure to improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant as well as the quality of the treatment.
“Ultimately the work improves the quality of effluent and reduces odour as the aging equipment is replaced,” Cr Sanderson said.
“The project is part of Council’s commitment to reduce our community’s impact on the environment and to manage waste sustainably.
“It is anticipated that the current projects will be finished by the end of next year, weather permitting.”