Hunt on for river spot for sewage treatment plant

LOGAN council is on the hunt for a riverside location to build its newest sewage treatment plant after it was revealed the city’s sewers would be at breaking point in four years.

LOGAN City Council is on the hunt for a riverside location to build the city’s newest sewage treatment plant after it was revealed last week the city’s sewers were reaching capacity and will be at breaking point in the next four years.

Last week, the council took the initiative and announced to thousands of residents it was on the hunt for 80 hectares of land backing on to Logan River to build the city’s next sewerage treatment plant.

Council wrote to residents in the high-growth corridor between Park Ridge and Yarrabilba.

The letter told households the new sewage treatment plant was needed to keep pace with the population boom and would ultimately service about 121,000 people.

Council water committee chairman Phil Pidgeon said council was working to ensure the land would not have to be compulsorily acquired. But he said council was taking action now as the $40 million first stage of the sewage plant was hoped to be operational by 2021.

Ratepayers will own the plant which will be jointly paid for by council and the state government.

Logan council’s water treatment plant at Flagstone where two large old technology aerated tanks sit next to sleek, smaller rectangle filtration tanks which use new technology.

Cr Pidgeon said council had endorsed plans to build two treatment plants in the southern suburbs of Logan.

“One is already planned at Cedar Grove, and now we are looking for a site for the second plant to service new development at Yarrabilba, Logan Village, Chambers Flat and most of Park Ridge,” he said.

“At this stage, there are no council-owned sites that meet all of the criteria for what council will need.

“We are hoping the community can give us feedback on how to go about identifying an appropriate location. Council knows that living near a treatment plant is not usually high on anyone’s wish list.

“But we want to find the best site possible with the help and suggestions from residents. I want to make it clear that council does not have any clear options on the table … or a list of sites people can vote for or comment on,” he said.

Cr Pidgeon said the best site would have minimal community impact and be a safe location for a business and infrastructure hub.

Council said it would need about 10 hectares of land with river access for the plant with a further 70 hectares for a buffer zone.

Submissions on suitable sites opened on Monday and will close on August 20.

Information sessions will be held at Logan Village on July 21; Stockleigh on August 4; and Chambers Flat on August 11. Have your say: haveyoursaylogan.engagementhq.com