Junee Sewage Treatment Plant Augmentation
Junee's upgraded sewage treatment plant is operational
The Junee Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) treats sewage from the township of Junee and surrounding areas, including domestic waste from a local abattoir and from the Junee Correctional Centre. Treated and disinfected effluent from the plant is reused to irrigate the Golf Club, public ovals and the Junee High School Oval. Excess effluent is discharged into Houlaghans Creek.
In 2016, with the existing plant nearing its capacity, Junee Shire Council engaged NSW Public Works to investigate the best way to augment the plant. Council required the plant to cater for growth projections, and to satisfy NSW Environment Protection Authority requirements for discharge into sensitive waters and the production of Stabilised Grade-B Biosolids. A new biological treatment process was proposed based on NSW Public Works' innovative, sustainable and low cost Intermittently Decanted Extended Aeration (IDEA) treatment process, in which the micro-organisms contained within the sewage treatment process' bioreactor aid to break down organic matter. Management of the treated effluent from the new IDEA plant would then continue via the existing effluent reuse system.
The project has been funded by the State Government’s Restart NSW initiative, specifically the Safe and Secure Water Program, which provided council the ability to complete a detailed design of the plant and proceed to construction.
NSW Public Works worked closely with Council throughout the project, from inception through to commissioning of the new plant. PWA’s professional services included project management, options study, environmental assessment, geotechnical investigation and survey, concept design, detailed design, tender procurement, contract administration, site supervision, testing and commissioning.
The NSW Public Works design incorporates solar panels to offset power loading of the modern treatment process. The STP was commissioned in March 2020 during the heights of the COVID-19 Pandemic, aided by the continual cooperative relationship of the project team. NSW Public Works also assisted Council to procure grant approvals for additional construction works to further capitalise this asset. Delivered below the project budget, the augmented 7000EP capacity Junee Sewage Treatment Plant will meet Council’s treatment capacity requirements for the next 30 years and help to secure their water management plan objectives for effluent reuse and a better environment into the future.
(Aerial images courtesy of Michael Summerell of Junee Shire Council)