Orica Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gladstone, Queensland

Orica wastewater treatment plant is located on Reid Road in Yarwun, Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. The plant serves a population of 706 and operates under secondary treatment, discharging an annual volume of 182.60 megaliters. Its coastal location within 10 km of the shoreline places it in a sensitive environmental zone. As a secondary treatment facility, Orica meets the standard required for municipal wastewater in Australia under state and national guidelines. It operates within the regulatory framework of Queensland's Environmental Protection Act and the Australian Water Quality Guidelines. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Coral Sea via the Port Curtis estuary and the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This coastal environment supports diverse marine life, including seagrass beds and coral communities, making effective wastewater management critical to protecting downstream ecosystems.

Orica discharges treated wastewater into the Port Curtis estuary, which flows into the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This coastal region is ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows, mangroves, and coral reefs that provide habitat for marine species including dugongs and sea turtles. The plant's proximity to the coast necessitates careful management to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream water quality.