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Maleny Irrigated Forest and Wetland

Maleny Irrigated Forest and Wetland

Specifications

  • Client: Unitywater
  • Scope:

    The Maleny IFC project is designed to beneficially use water and provide final-stage nutrient removal of effluent from the newly constructed Maleny sewage treatment plant (STP).  The STP treats sewage water to A Grade via a membrane bioreactor process prior to irrigation to a constructed rainforest, and filtration through a constructed wetland.  The new forest and associated wetland is designed to treat up to 925 kL of effluent per day.

    Verterra’s role involved preparation of a full suite of management plans (project plan; construction program; inspection and test plan; environment management plan, erosion and sediment control plan; traffic management plan; quality plan; safety plan, commissioning plan), and project management of construction including: installation of pumps, an irrigation distribution network, control system, soil moisture sensors, weather station, rainforest establishment, removal of exotic tree species, landslip remediation and extension to the existing public walkway infrastructure.

    The IFC has been established within the Maleny Community Precinct on 18.9 ha of ex grazing pasture land.  A forest area of 13.7 ha is irrigated and surrounded by unirrigated buffer and gully plantings.  The IFC project has adopted a palette of over 100 canopy and understory species established at a stocking of up to 2,500 stems/ha.  The planting has been completed in three phases over a four year period.

    Verterra continues to provide maintenance and consulting services for this award-winning project. 

    UN World Environment Day Business Award for Best Specific Environmental Initiative 2015.

  • Challenge:

    A grade effluent from the Maleny sewage treatment plant carries a residual nutrient load that would be expensive to remove by engineered water treatment methods.  The plant is located in a sensitive environmental region, approximately 10 km upstream of a major drinking water supply dam.

  • Solution:

    A novel solution was designed by the client to utilise a planted rainforest and constructed wetland to provide final stage nutrient removal prior to entering surface waters upstream of a drinking water supply dam. Verterra delivered construction plus initial operational and maintenance services; and is also engaged in ongoing maintenance and consulting.

     

  • Benefit to Client:

    This “ecosystem” based approach to treatment will deliver cost savings over a conventional engineering approach.  The forest will double as a community recreational facility.  Significantly, the forest represents an appreciating community asset with economic, environmental and social benefits, compared to conventional water treatment works which are depreciating assets.

  • Market Sector: Municipal and Urban
  • Capabilities:
    • Irrigated forest & fodder crops for beneficial use of waste water
    • Irrigation design
    • Project management
  • Location: Queensland
  • Year: 2010 - 2023