The world-leading project that uses waste water to irrigate Fraser Coast, Queensland, hardwood plantations, rather than ending up in the ocean, is about to grow by up to 30,000 trees.
Fraser Coast Mayor, George Seymour said Council was a national leader in re-using treated effluent for farming and agroforestry.
“The project will prevent more than 4000kg of nutrients a year being discharged into the ocean by utilising excess treated effluent from the region.”
Currently 2441 million litres of recycled water are used each year to irrigate Council timber plantations. A further 3000 million litres are used by Maryborough and Hervey Bay farmers.
The mayor said the new plantation would increase the use of recycled water by 135 million litres a year.
“Our recycled water scheme, which has been in place for more than 25 years, routinely uses 90-100 percent of the Fraser Coast’s treated wastewater for tree plantations, golf courses, turf farms, sporting fields and sugar cane crops.
“This new plantation will ensure that the re-use scheme keeps pace with the increase in effluent as the Hervey Bay populations grows.”
New tree species will also be trialled as part of the development of the new plantation.
The project has received $235,000 from the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and $225,000 from Council.
“The project is employing local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to assist with the tree planting.”
The project is also gaining attention as part of a state government push to establish Queensland as a leader in carbon farming – a program that aims to strip the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
“Carbon faming could be a new income stream for Council which will help offset our operating costs.”
