Overview
Toomulla wastewater treatment plant in Queensland, Australia provides secondary treatment for a small coastal community. The plant serves approximately 1,167 people and discharges 301.97 megalitres annually.
Toomulla wastewater treatment plant is located in the coastal locality of Toomulla, within the Townsville City region of Queensland, Australia. This small-scale facility serves a population of around 1,167 residents, reflecting the rural and coastal character of the area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under Australian wastewater regulations for communities of this size. Secondary treatment effectively removes organic matter and suspended solids, producing effluent suitable for discharge into the environment. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of Queensland's Environmental Protection Act and the Australian Water Quality Guidelines. The treated effluent is discharged into the local coastal environment, as the plant is situated within 10 kilometers of the coast. The receiving waters ultimately flow into the Coral Sea, part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This proximity to sensitive marine ecosystems underscores the importance of effective wastewater management to protect water quality and marine biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Coral Sea, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This region supports diverse marine life, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and migratory species. Effective nutrient and pathogen removal from wastewater is critical to prevent eutrophication and protect the ecological health of this globally significant marine environment.
Frequently asked questions
Toomulla wastewater treatment plant is located in the locality of Toomulla, within the Townsville City region of Queensland, Australia. It serves a small coastal community near the Coral Sea.
The plant serves approximately 1,167 people, making it a small-scale facility typical of rural coastal communities in Queensland.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the local coastal environment, which ultimately flows into the Coral Sea. The discharge volume is approximately 301.97 megalitres per year.
The plant operates under Queensland's Environmental Protection Act and the Australian Water Quality Guidelines. These regulations set standards for effluent quality to protect receiving waters, especially given the proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
For small communities in Australia, secondary treatment is standard. This biological process removes organic matter and suspended solids, producing effluent suitable for discharge into coastal or inland waters, in compliance with state and national guidelines.
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