Recognising rapid urban growth in the Local Government Area, Moreton Bay Regional Council has identified the need to augment the Brendale Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to account for this future growth.
Background
Client: Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC)/Water Strategies via the Healthy Waterways Partnership
MBRC has identified the need to augment the Brendale Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to account for this future growth. The need for a ‘Sustainable Loads’ assessment was identified, which involved (i) an evaluation of current ecosystem health of the receiving waters in an Integrated Stream Health Assessment, (ii) determination of catchment and WWTP pollutant loads, and (iii) assessment of the environmental implications associated with various WWTP discharge options. The Integrated Stream Health Assessment was an integral component of the study, consistent with national and state guidelines and conducted in accordance with Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) methodology.
Outcomes and Benefits
It comprised assessment of the following stream health indicators: 1) Physico-chemical water and sediment parameters: diel range of dissolved oxygen and temperature; nutrients and Biochemical Oxygen Demand; pH, Electrical conductivity; and sediment trace metals. 2) Ecosystem Processes: Benthic metabolism; and stable isotope analysis of algal samples. 3) Biological Indicators: aquatic macroinvertebrates (Diversity, PET, SIGNAL); fish (PONSE, O/E50, alien fish species); and algae biomass in water column and sediment chlorophyll. The combination of stream health assessment, determination of catchment and WWTP loads, as well as the evaluation of various discharge scenarios with receiving river pool and estuarine box models allowed identification of recommended upgrade and discharge scenarios of the Brendale WWTP.
Services and Expertise Provided:
The Brisbane River Catchment Flood Study is the most detailed and comprehensive flood study ever undertaken in Australia. The hydraulic models that were developed underwent rigorous calibration. A sophisticated Monte Carlo approach was used to hydraulically model 11,340 flooding scenarios. The result was a robust and defendable set of design events. The study was fully peer reviewed by a panel of independent experts.
We have led the development of coastal hazard maps (sea level rise, storm tide inundation and erosion) for the City of Cairns in Far North Queensland and used this information to undertake a risk assessment of assets and infrastructure of the City under three timeframes (current, 2050 and 2100), incorporating climate change projections.
Environmental risk assessment of siltation dredging and dredge material management.
National Grid are currently leading “zero-2050”, a multi organisational initiative seeking to develop a co-ordinated cross-sector strategy for achieving net zero carbon emissions for the South Wales region.The UK has a target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A net-zero target requires deep reductions in emissions, coupled with techniques such as carbon capture and storage to offset any remaining sources.