Overview
Cooloola Cove wastewater treatment plant in Queensland, Australia, serves 2,513 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 650.31 ML/year and is located within 10 km of the coast.
Cooloola Cove wastewater treatment plant is located on Queen Elizabeth Drive in Cooloola Cove, within the Gympie Regional area of Queensland, Australia. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,513 people, classifying it as a small community facility. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under Australian wastewater regulations for coastal discharges. It processes an average discharge volume of 650.31 megaliters per year, reflecting its role in managing local domestic wastewater. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its treated effluent ultimately reaches the Coral Sea via local waterways. As a coastal discharge, the plant must comply with strict nutrient and pathogen limits to protect marine ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, which is ecologically sensitive.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local creeks that flow into the Coral Sea, part of the South Pacific Ocean. This coastal region supports diverse marine life, including seagrass beds and coral reefs. The area is within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, requiring careful management of nutrients and sediments to prevent algal blooms and protect downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Queen Elizabeth Drive in Cooloola Cove, within the Gympie Regional area of Queensland, Australia.
The plant serves approximately 2,513 people, making it a small community wastewater facility.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow to the Coral Sea, approximately 650 ML per year.
The plant operates under Queensland's Environmental Protection Act and the Australian Water Quality Guidelines, which set discharge standards for coastal facilities to protect marine ecosystems.
For small coastal communities, secondary treatment is standard, often with additional nutrient reduction if discharging near sensitive areas like the Great Barrier Reef.
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