A new $35 million wastewater treatment plant will support Tweed Shire’s expanding population and enhance the health of local waterways.
Launched in February, the Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant will service the steadily growing areas of Tweed Heads, Banora Point, Terranora and Bilambil Heights. Tweed Shire Council funded the project, with the assistance of a $16.8 million interest-free loan under the New South Wales Government Local Infrastructure Fund.
The new facility will have the capacity to meet forecasted population growth, using new ultraviolet treatment processes and improved filtration to process wastewater from up to 27,000 homes. It will also significantly improve the quality of the treated effluent, compared to the plant it replaces.
“One of the most pleasing aspects of this project is the high emphasis placed on improving the final quality of effluent that is discharged to the Terranora Inlet after the wastewater has been treated,” said the Mayor of Tweed Shire, Councillor Barry Longland.
“This upgraded facility will bring significant benefits for the health of the Tweed River system as the concentrations of phosphorus will be reduced by 90 percent and nitrogen levels will be cut by 40 percent.
“So while population growth will bring more homes in the area and higher levels of wastewater requiring treatment, the improved treatment process will ensure there won’t be any increase in the amount of nutrients entering the river system,” said the Mayor.
The enhanced quality of the final treated effluent should also create further opportunities to recycle the treated water.
Tweed Shire Council already provides recycled water to the Tweed Heads/Coolangatta Golf Course and is investigating other potential uses for the treated water, including future supply to Council’s regional sporting complex, lessening the demand on the district’s potable water supplies and cutting the amount of effluent discharged into the Tweed estuary.
