Burdekin Shire Council gets $2m for algae plant

The state government has granted $2m to the Burdekin Shire Council to will stop harmful nutrients ending up on the reef, and make fertiliser in the process. See what it’s about.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The Burdekin Shire Council has come up trumps with a $2m cash injection for its macroalgae treatment plant, as part of $69m for 99 water and waste projects announced by the state government on Tuesday.

The money comes in the sixth round of ‘Building our Regions’ funding from the state Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning department.

The Burdekin council will get $2m for the Ayr macroalgae wastewater treatment plant, currently in the first stages of construction.

Using the technology developed at James Cook University, macroalgae is combined with seaweed. Sunlight is added to the seaweed and algae and it removes nitrogen and phosphorus from waterways: the seaweed is then used as fertiliser.

The process also stops nitrogen and phosphorus being washed out to sea.

A council spokeswoman said the funding was for the earthworks component of the project.

There is separate state and council funding for construction of the ‘macroalgae bioremediation facility’, once the earthworks are done.

The earthworks pad recently began and the council planned to have it completed, weather permitting, by the end of September, the spokeswoman said.

RegenAqua would then begin construction on the facility, she said.

The Burdekin Shire Council also received $952,000 for a sewerage switchboard upgrade, and $659,283 drainage works on Edwards St in this round of funding.

Burdekin mayor Lyn McLaughlin has been unavailable for comment.

Originally published as Burdekin Shire Council gets $2m for algae plant