Water Connections Tour 2023

The annual five-day intensive tour of water and sewerage treatment plant infrastructure in remote and regional Councils provide an opportunity to share up to date technical and policy information and to explore and understand issues facing small and remote communities.

The 2023 Water Connections Tour itinerary included visits to treatment plants, meetings with key staff and elected representatives and local hospitality in the South Burnett, North Burnett, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Woorabinda, Gladstone and Bundaberg Council areas. Over the course of the week we passed through Kabi Kabi, Wakka Wakka, Butchulla, Auburn Harkwood, Iman, Wulli Wulli, Wadja, Kanolu, Bidjara, Barada, Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda country, and we pay our respects to the First Nations people and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.

Day 1: Our first stop was Nanango Sewage Treatment Plant where Steve Carroll, Principal Engineer Water and Wastewater at South Burnett Regional Council (SBRC) showed us around the plant and talked through the current concerns and future plans for the plant to cope with increasing demands on the sewerage network. This plant was originally constructed in 1956 and the original inlet channel, Imhoff tank and lagoons are still on site and used to extend capacity or act as a temporary backup when required.