November 2008 - Mackay Regional Council - Queensland ...

Flow of waste waterFacility a product ofPlant job a treatfor AndrewAndrew McHutcheon jokingly reckonshe may have discovered the secret tolongevity.It has something to do with his 30 yearsworking at the Mt Bassett Treatment Plant,which is about to be de-commissionedand replaced by the Mackay South ReuseFacility at Bakers Creek.“I just became accustomed to the smell, ithas probably done me the world of good,”joked the 59 year old.“In those days we never had a showerbefore going home from work and my wifealways said that I stunk; she had sometough times trying to get rid of the smell.”And his friends never missed an opportunityto have a laugh at his expense.“I used to get a lot of phone calls at homefrom people asking if Sue Reach wasthere,” he said.Andrew’s introduction to the smellysurrounds of the treatment plant was asa 16-year-old apprentice carpenter. Hebuilt filters, balance tanks, clarifiers andaeration tanks and helped construct manyof the city’s pump stations.“People thought there was somethingwrong with me, but we had a good groupof guys; it was an enjoyable job and I lovedit,” he said.About 16 megalitres of effluent isbeing produced daily at the newstate-of-the-art Mackay South WaterRecycling Facility – the culminationof about nine years of planning.The revamped site and upgradedplant is now home to one ofAustralia’s major environmental,economical and socially beneficialwaste water re-use schemes.Mackay Regional Council MayorCol Meng said it was a red-letteroccasion for residents.“It is not every day a councilcommissions a new $154 millionfacility and closes down ageinginfrastructure while protecting theGreat Barrier Reef,” he said.“Operating at world’s best practice,this plant has set a new benchmarkby safeguarding the Great BarrierReef from high levels of nutrients.”Ninety per cent of treated effluentat the Bakers Creek facility will beAnd as you would expect, not a day passedwithout finding something a little unusualin the sewage.“We often found false teeth, watches, creditcards or the occasional driver’s license,” hesaid.“It’s a bit sad to see Mt Bassett closebecause we achieved a lot at the site.”While the strong odour wafting acrossHarbour Road became synonymous withMt Bassett, the plant played a pivotal rolein the treatment of the city’s effluent.First built in 1963, the plant was expandedin the 1980s to cater for Mackay’s growth.By the year 2000, and with an overflowingcapacity, it was time to reconsider therecycled, allowing the irrigationof about 3,200 hectares of nearbyagricultural land – an area severelyhampered by a worsening saltwaterintrusion problem and restrictedgroundwater allocations.Cr Meng said the project wastangible evidence of LocalGovernment working in collaborationwith the Queensland Governmentand National Water Commissionto provide water security andsignificant environmental benefitsfor the region.“It has been funded equally by thethree tiers of government,future of the facility.Hence council’s decision to seek Stateand Federal funding to deliver thebiggest infrastructure project of its typein the region. The result is a world-classtreatment plant at Bakers Creek whichwill turn effluent into high-quality recycledwater that is suitable for irrigation - a futurethat Andrew is proud to be part of.In 2007 Andrew joined Tenix Alliance asa co-ordinator at the new Mackay SouthReuse Facility. He now ventures to workevery day, content in the knowledge he nolonger has to return home with lingeringodour problems - something Harbour Roadresidents will also no doubt be grateful for.6