Overview
Saint Pauls wastewater treatment plant on Moa Island, Queensland, Australia serves a small population of 348 with secondary treatment. It discharges treated wastewater near the coast in the Torres Strait region.
Saint Pauls wastewater treatment plant is located on Moa Island in the Torres Strait Island Regional area of Queensland, Australia. It serves the small community of St Pauls with a population of approximately 348 people. The plant is situated in a remote coastal environment on Kawane Street. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is appropriate for its small population scale. Under Australian regulatory frameworks, smaller communities often rely on secondary treatment to meet environmental standards before discharge. The plant's operational status is active, and it discharges a volume of about 90 megaliters per year. The treated effluent is released into the local coastal waters of the Torres Strait, a region known for its rich marine biodiversity and coral reef ecosystems. The Torres Strait connects the Coral Sea to the Arafura Sea and supports traditional indigenous fishing and cultural practices. The plant's coastal location requires careful management to protect sensitive marine habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Torres Strait, which lies between Australia and Papua New Guinea. This marine environment is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse coral reefs, seagrass beds, and marine species including dugongs and sea turtles. The Torres Strait ultimately connects to the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads to protect these downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Saint Pauls wastewater treatment plant is located on Moa Island in the Torres Strait Island Regional area of Queensland, Australia, specifically on Kawane Street in the community of St Pauls.
The plant serves a small population of approximately 348 people in the St Pauls community on Moa Island.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the coastal waters of the Torres Strait, a marine environment that connects to the Coral Sea.
As an Australian plant, it operates under state and federal environmental regulations, including the Queensland Environmental Protection Act and the Australian Water Quality Guidelines, which set standards for wastewater treatment and discharge to protect coastal ecosystems.
For small remote communities like St Pauls, secondary treatment is typical and effective. It reduces organic matter and pathogens, meeting environmental standards for coastal discharge while balancing operational costs and infrastructure constraints.
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