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Wamuran Irrigation Scheme

As part of our commitment to long-term sustainable water supply in our region, Unitywater is building the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme. This recycled water scheme will provide year-round water security for a number of Wamuran growers while sustainably managing wastewater from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

The Wamuran Irrigation Scheme will divert Class A recycled water from the Caboolture South STP to farms, to be safely irrigated onto turf and crops, giving those participating in the Scheme greater certainty for crop planting and enabling them to expand their operations.

The Scheme will not only supply high quality recycled water to growers in our region but will also help us meet our 2050 sustainability goals of zero nutrients into our waterways and 100% reuse of recycled wastewater.

More about the Scheme

In its first stages, the Scheme will deliver about 2.6 gigalitres of recycled water per year – the equivalent of 1051 Olympic swimming pools – to a number of farming operations in the region producing raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, avocados and turf. As the population grows and the supply of recycled water increases, more will be distributed and more growers from the region will be able to access the Scheme.

Using the recycled water for irrigation means we won’t need to discharge as much treated effluent into the Caboolture River. In Stage 1 alone, 11 tonnes of nitrogen and 1.8 tonnes of phosphorus will be diverted away from the river.

The Scheme is being built by the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme Joint Venture (JV), made up of construction contractor Pensar and two local growers, Twin View Turf and Pinata Farms. The JV was awarded a contract in October 2019 to assist Unitywater to design and construct the Scheme, following an open-market tender process.

The design has been finalised and construction is underway. The Scheme is due to be operational in early 2024.


Scheme benefits

The Wamuran Irrigation Scheme is an important project for the local community and the environment.

Background

Expected population increases in the Moreton Bay region will create additional loads through Unitywater’s sewage treatment plants and higher effluent volumes following treatment.

Unitywater identified a unique opportunity to treat recycled water at the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant to Class A standard, then supply the water to farmers who currently rely on their own dams or local creeks to irrigate their crops.

In 2016, Unitywater commissioned a survey to gauge interest from agribusinesses in the Wamuran area about the use of recycled water on food and turf crops, which was met with a lot of interest. A number of foundation customers were identified using a weighted multi-criteria process that included their location and projected recycled water demand. We also considered a diverse range of crops, with an even mix of seasonal and day/night water requirements, so the Scheme could handle peak demands. Crops in the first stage of the Scheme include raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, avocados and turf.

Benefits from the Scheme include providing a high quality, secure water supply for growers and reducing effluent and nutrient volumes being discharged into the Caboolture River. As more water becomes available from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant, the Scheme will expand to service more local growers.


How the Scheme will operate

Wastewater from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant will be treated in a disinfection facility before it is transferred via a 10km pipeline to Moodlu Quarry, where it will pass through a water quality management facility.

Moodlu Quarry will be used for mid-stream balancing storage to ensure that surplus water is held to meet peak seasonal crop demand.

Moodlu Quarry is critical to the success of the Scheme and from late February 2022, will become an active construction zone with strict site access protocols in place.

In Stage 1, water will be delivered to farms from the Moodlu Quarry pump station through another 12km pipeline to safely irrigate turf and food crops.

How the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme will operate:


As part of our commitment to long-term sustainable water supply in our region, Unitywater is building the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme. This recycled water scheme will provide year-round water security for a number of Wamuran growers while sustainably managing wastewater from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

The Wamuran Irrigation Scheme will divert Class A recycled water from the Caboolture South STP to farms, to be safely irrigated onto turf and crops, giving those participating in the Scheme greater certainty for crop planting and enabling them to expand their operations.

The Scheme will not only supply high quality recycled water to growers in our region but will also help us meet our 2050 sustainability goals of zero nutrients into our waterways and 100% reuse of recycled wastewater.

More about the Scheme

In its first stages, the Scheme will deliver about 2.6 gigalitres of recycled water per year – the equivalent of 1051 Olympic swimming pools – to a number of farming operations in the region producing raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, avocados and turf. As the population grows and the supply of recycled water increases, more will be distributed and more growers from the region will be able to access the Scheme.

Using the recycled water for irrigation means we won’t need to discharge as much treated effluent into the Caboolture River. In Stage 1 alone, 11 tonnes of nitrogen and 1.8 tonnes of phosphorus will be diverted away from the river.

The Scheme is being built by the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme Joint Venture (JV), made up of construction contractor Pensar and two local growers, Twin View Turf and Pinata Farms. The JV was awarded a contract in October 2019 to assist Unitywater to design and construct the Scheme, following an open-market tender process.

The design has been finalised and construction is underway. The Scheme is due to be operational in early 2024.


Scheme benefits

The Wamuran Irrigation Scheme is an important project for the local community and the environment.

Background

Expected population increases in the Moreton Bay region will create additional loads through Unitywater’s sewage treatment plants and higher effluent volumes following treatment.

Unitywater identified a unique opportunity to treat recycled water at the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant to Class A standard, then supply the water to farmers who currently rely on their own dams or local creeks to irrigate their crops.

In 2016, Unitywater commissioned a survey to gauge interest from agribusinesses in the Wamuran area about the use of recycled water on food and turf crops, which was met with a lot of interest. A number of foundation customers were identified using a weighted multi-criteria process that included their location and projected recycled water demand. We also considered a diverse range of crops, with an even mix of seasonal and day/night water requirements, so the Scheme could handle peak demands. Crops in the first stage of the Scheme include raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, avocados and turf.

Benefits from the Scheme include providing a high quality, secure water supply for growers and reducing effluent and nutrient volumes being discharged into the Caboolture River. As more water becomes available from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant, the Scheme will expand to service more local growers.


How the Scheme will operate

Wastewater from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant will be treated in a disinfection facility before it is transferred via a 10km pipeline to Moodlu Quarry, where it will pass through a water quality management facility.

Moodlu Quarry will be used for mid-stream balancing storage to ensure that surplus water is held to meet peak seasonal crop demand.

Moodlu Quarry is critical to the success of the Scheme and from late February 2022, will become an active construction zone with strict site access protocols in place.

In Stage 1, water will be delivered to farms from the Moodlu Quarry pump station through another 12km pipeline to safely irrigate turf and food crops.

How the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme will operate:


Page last updated: 18 Apr 2024, 12:18 PM