Cream of the crop to be sold in public tender by council

For the second time the South Burnett Regional Council are planning to harvest and sell a crop to offset treatment plant costs.

HEFTY LOAD: It is estimated that the crop may yield 200 bales or 105 tonne. Picture: South Burnett Regional Council

IN THE next few days the South Burnett Regional Council will cut 70 acres of irrigated oats on the corner of River Road and Hodges Road, Kingaroy.

For the second time the oats will be dried, baled and sold by a public tender with an estimate that the crop will make 200 bales.

South Burnett Regional Council's General Manager of Infrastructure Aaron Meehan said it was the second time they have undertaken this type of project.

"Council licence conditions requires minimisation of discharge on nutrient water," Mr Meehan said.

"So beneficial reuse cropping was introduced to uptake residual nutrients in reuse water."

He said a detailed tender will be released once baling and stacking is complete, which is anticipated to be next Wednesday, October 23.

From the sale of the fodder, Mr Meehan said revenue raised will return to the operational budget of the treatment plant.

"It will contribute to offsetting the costs that would still exist even if the irrigation scheme was not introduced.

"For example the treatment process is still required as well as the power consumption," he said.

More information to come.

Originally published as Cream of the crop to be sold in public tender by council