Overview
Smithtown Gladstone is a secondary treatment plant in Gladstone, New South Wales, Australia, serving 1,429 people. It discharges 369.82 megalitres of treated wastewater annually and is located within 10 km of the coast.
Smithtown Gladstone is a wastewater treatment plant located on Darkwater Street in Gladstone, within the Kempsey Shire Council area of New South Wales, Australia. The plant serves a population of 1,429 and operates at secondary treatment level, providing biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the standard requirements for municipal wastewater treatment in Australia, where the National Water Quality Management Strategy sets guidelines for effluent quality. The plant's discharge volume of 369.82 megalitres per year reflects its scale for a small coastal community. The plant is situated within 10 km of the coast, meaning its treated effluent ultimately reaches the Tasman Sea via local waterways. The Macleay River system is the likely receiving water body, supporting estuarine and marine ecosystems along the New South Wales coast. Proper treatment helps protect downstream aquatic habitats and recreational water quality.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent discharges into the Macleay River catchment, which flows into the Tasman Sea near South West Rocks. This coastal region supports diverse marine life, including fish nurseries and migratory shorebirds. Secondary treatment reduces nutrient and pathogen loads, helping to maintain water quality in the estuary and nearshore environment, which is important for local fisheries and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Darkwater Street in Gladstone, within the Kempsey Shire Council area of New South Wales, Australia.
The plant serves a population of 1,429 people.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Macleay River catchment, which flows into the Tasman Sea. The discharge volume is 369.82 megalitres per year.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting standard Australian guidelines for municipal wastewater.
The plant operates under the National Water Quality Management Strategy, which sets effluent quality guidelines. For a small coastal community, secondary treatment is typical to protect marine environments.
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