Water, Wastewater and Waste Management

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council held yesterday, Wednesday 16 September 2020, the Council was presented with an update regarding the projects being undertaken in the areas of Water, Wastewater and Waste Management in the current financial year.

At the Normanton Sewerage Treatment Plant $734,000 has been allocated to de-silting the plant and a further $20,000 for irrigation repairs funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and at Karumba $100,000 has been allocated to the office/control building through funding from Works 4 Queensland and $60,000 for the sewerage treatment plant inlet screen replacement funding by Council through rates and charges.

In relation to waste management throughout the Shire we have secured $383,182 from the Department of Environment and Science for the tyre recycling project, Karumba CCTV tower and the engagement of an Illegal Dumping Compliance Officer. These projects will help reduce the number of tyres in the land fill and help to address the issue of illegal dumping. Council contributed $130,000 towards the tyre recycling project, while the other two were fully funded.

There are many projects planned this financial year in relation to our water infrastructure with funding consisting of $60,000 from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, $712,000 from Building Better Regions Fund from the Federal Government for a Raw Water irrigation project and $1,670,000 from Works 4 Queensland and COVID-Works 4 Queensland. The projects include the Yappar Street valve replacement, Reservoir #3 recoat, office/control building, installation of second clarifier, conversion/upgrade of PLC, filter upgrade at Normanton WTP, repair and upgrade to shed and repair the scouring at the weir embankment.

Mayor Jack Bawden said “these projects would not have been possible without the funding provided by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Department of Local Government and Department of Environment and Science. Our small rural and remote Shires do not have the revenue capacity to raise the necessary funds through rates and charges and these projects are only possible due to the support we receive from the other levels of Government, and we are very appreciative”.