Moonee Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moonee Beach, New South Wales

Moonee wastewater treatment plant is located on Bucca Road in Moonee Beach, within the Coffs Harbour City Council area of New South Wales, Australia. The facility serves a population of 6,312 and has a designed capacity of 1.00 ML/day, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal treatment plant for the local community. As an Australian plant, it operates under the regulatory framework of the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA), which issues environment protection licenses under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal in sensitive catchments. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local catchment, which ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean via Moonee Creek and the coastal estuaries of the Coffs Harbour region. The surrounding environment supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a coastal ecosystem that includes important fish breeding and migratory bird habitats.

The plant's treated effluent enters Moonee Creek, a coastal waterway that flows into the Pacific Ocean near Moonee Beach. This region is part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse marine life, including coral communities, seagrass beds, and migratory shorebirds. The plant's discharge must meet strict nutrient and pathogen limits to protect these downstream ecosystems.