July 17, 2026
The proponents of a biosolids processing facility at Glan Devon, north of Nanango, addressed the South Burnett Regional Council’s July meeting in a bid to clear up misunderstandings about the project.
Project director Rusty Mark told the Council that biosolids were not “poo”.
“Wastewater from homes and businesses goes to a wastewater treatment plant where the sewage system destroys pathogens, removes debris and water and creates nutrient-rich biosolids,” Mr Mark said.
“Biosolids are actually the bodies of the bacteria that have broken down all the poo and then through the process at the treatment plant, they die.”
He said trucks were already bringing biosolids to the South Burnett which were being applied directly to farms.
“What we are looking at doing is improving that product and making it more useful for farmers, easier to handle, less odour and put a bit of value-add into it for the end use,” Mr Mark said.
He said the biosolids would be processed in an enclosed facility at Glan Devon with negative-pressure ventilation which would ensure odour would not escape from the building.
The heating system to dry the biosolids would use non-recyclable waste, which currently goes to landfill, which they would try to source locally if possible.
He said the purpose-built facility would look like “a large agricultural shed”, about 60m x 60m.
The Development Application stated 120,000 tonnes per annum capacity, but it was “very likely” it would only be 40,000 tonnes a year.
“Basically, once we’ve built our plant you shouldn’t really even know it is there,” Mr Mark said.
He said the 185ha block was next to the Burnett Highway but only 3.4ha would be used for the project. He said this was 1329m away from Barkers Creek.
Mr Mark said the water storage area shown in the design was to hold water that had been evaporated during the drying process and then condensed, which would be stored for reuse on the site.
He described it as “distilled” although it may contain ammonia.
Mr Mark emphasised that biosolids were already coming to the South Burnett.
“We are not bringing new material in. All we are doing is looking at ways to make it more beneficial,” Mr Mark.
The plan is to add mineral nutrients to produce an upgraded fertiliser product.
Mr Mark said about 246 trucks passed the Mondure Crossing Road intersection on the highway every day, including four trucks currently carrying biosolids.
The only change, he said, would be that those four trucks would now be turning off the highway and into the new facility.
If the facility did expand to full capacity, the number of biosolid trucks per day would increase to 10 and TMR would require the company to put in a new turning lane on the highway.
Mr Mark urged people to visit the company’s website to learn more about the project.
The official Public Notification period for the Development Application – during which members of the public can make submissions for or against the project – will open once questions from the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) have been addressed.
- External link: Glan Devon Project
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