This project rehabilitated severely eroded streambanks along Logan Creek following extreme rainfall and flooding in the 2021–22 severe weather season. The collapse of streambanks had caused loss of valuable riparian vegetation and was adversely impacting aquatic habitat and water quality downstream. Funded jointly by the Queensland and Australian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the project aimed to stabilise riparian areas, restore ecological function and improve catchment resilience to future flood events.

For this ReVert Landscape Rehabilitation project Verterra was engaged to rehabilitate a large, actively eroding gully system adjacent to the Bowen River in North Queensland. Delivered in partnership with Alluvium through the Landscape Restoration Partnership, this project represents Australia’s first gully rehabilitation initiative registered under the ENVOMARK Reef Credit Methodology - establishing a benchmark for large-scale sediment reduction projects designed to improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

As part of expansion planning, it became apparent to this mining operation that excavation would intercept paleo-channels containing significant volumes of groundwater in the Macarthur River District. The water, which was contaminated with elevated zinc levels exceeding ANZECC discharge guidelines. Verterra was briefed to help resolve these issues with a cost-effective approach that would ensure a long-term, beneficial solution.  

To enable sustainable, large-scale irrigation using coal seam gas (CSG) water, this client required both rigorous technical assessment of candidate land and a well-prepared regulatory submission for a beneficial use approval. The project had to address marginal soils in a region with limited experience in intensive irrigation, while aligning with environmental safeguards and regulatory expectations. 

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. 

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.

In regions of Australia where rainfall is unreliable, treated wastewater (effluent) is increasingly recognised as a valuable resource—particularly for irrigating tree crops and other vegetation. However, to safely and effectively reuse effluent for irrigation, its quality must be carefully monitored and managed. This case study demonstrates how Verterra approached successfully undertook risk assessment and development of a management plan that would enable its beneficial reuse for a forest plantation.

Northern Australia is considered a high-potential region for expanding irrigated agriculture due to the availability of rainfall and relatively undeveloped land. However, increasing land under irrigation can elevate the risk of sediment, nutrient, and pesticide runoff—particularly into sensitive waterways that feed into the Great Barrier Reef.  In this case study, Verterra demonstrates how a thorough understanding of environmental risk is the first step to designing irrigation schemes with minimal off-site impact.

Verterra is providing an ongoing operational service for managing beneficial reuse of 37,000t/year of biosolids, including transport logistics, crop nutrition, data management and regulatory compliance.

Verterra designed, undertook feasibility studies, assisted with regulatory approvals, developed a stakeholder engagement plan and project managed delivery of 1,250ha of irrigated native eucalypt forest at Fairview and Springwater near Injune on behalf of Santos.