With planning underway for the staged development of up to 15 coal seam gas (CSG) wells in two Extended Production Test areas, the client sought an economically and environmentally sustainable option to manage the production of up to 1.8ML of highly saline and sodic CSG water per day.  

Rather than investing in expensive reverse osmosis or disposal pathways, a beneficial reuse option involving agricultural irrigation trials was proposed. To ensure success, the proposal required in-depth feasibility, design, and regulatory compliance support to assess viability and satisfy a Water Management Strategy and Environmental Authority conditions. 

With the population of the Caboolture River catchment expected to increase by over 100,000 people in the next 20–25 years, Unitywater faced a growing challenge: how to sustainably manage the effluent produced by the South Caboolture Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Although effluent is A-grade and suitable for a range of non-potable uses, without intervention, the increased nutrient loading could threaten the health of the Caboolture River and downstream waterways. 

To address this, Unitywater launched the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme (WIS)—a circular economy initiative to beneficially reuse treated effluent in agriculture. Verterra was appointed to provide deep expertise in agronomy, irrigation, land capability, and environmental planning to help guide the project’s success. 

This client sought an innovative, sustainable, and community-aligned solution for the beneficial reuse of A-grade effluent from a Sewage Treatment Plant, located just 10 km upstream of a major drinking water supply dam. Rather than pursuing a conventional advanced treatment facility, Verterra delivered an award-winning, nature-based solution.