The new Brunswick Valley Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and fully commissioned by mid 2010. The new STP will be located on Council owned land at the end of Vallances Road in Mullumbimby. The towns of Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads are presently served by two sewage treatment plants (STPs). These treatment plants are over thirty years old, have aging infrastructure and cannot treat sewage to modern standards.
The new Brunswick Valley STP will ultimately mean better wastewater management practices in the Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads areas and improved water quality in the Brunswick River estuary.
The proposed work is the result of ten years of planning and development with a range of agencies. There has been extensive community consultation during this period.
Construction of the road and access track to the STP is expected to commence in August and be completed in November 2008. Vallances Road will be upgraded for construction and operational traffic and will be designed and constructed to meet Australian Standards.
STP - The construction of the Brunswick Valley STP will commence in March 2009 and be completed in December 2009. The facilities include construction and operation of a physical, chemical and biological treatment plant and an effluent storage dam. Treated effluent will be available to the Main Arm Irrigation Scheme which currently irrigates treated effluent onto dairy pasture. Council's aim is for at least 80% of the dry weather flows to be reused for irrigation purposes. The STP will only discharge to the river in periods of extended wet weather. Biosolids recycling will also be available to local farms for use as a soil conditioner.
The wetlands and the STP are both currently in design stage. Tenders for the works close in June 08.
Constructed Wetlands - Approx 10,000 wetland plants will be planted in a ten hectare constructed wetland prior to the construction of the Brunswick Valley STP, which is due to start in March 2009. Treated effluent from the STP will be further treated through the wetlands prior to discharge to the Brunswick River.
The wetlands offers a sustainable approach to sewage management:
Pump Stations - Two pump stations will be constructed, one at Mullumbimby and one at Brunswick Heads. Construction will commence April 2009 and be completed in September 2009. These pump stations utilise current technologies and are located to ensure that there is minimal noise, odour and visual impact.
STP pipelines - Three pipelines will be constructed: One from Mullumbimby to the new Brunswick Valley STP, one from Brunswick Heads to new Brunswick Valley STP and one from the new Brunswick Valley STP to the existing Mullumbimby STP to connect with the existing pipeline to the Main Arm Irrigation Scheme. The pipeline back to the existing Mullumbimby STP will be placed in the same trench as Mullumbimby sewage line for much of the distance. Design is currently underway for the pump stations and pipelines.
The pipelines will generally traverse Council owned land and cleared grazing land, however some short lengths will travel under the Brunswick River and private properties.
Construction of pipelines and pump stations will commence in April 2009 and be completed in November 2009.
Council appreciates your feedback on any of the work carried out. Council will provide further information and opportunities for feedback during the duration of the upgrade.