Sewage treatment
General information
Operating a standard sewage treatment works or a special sewage treatment works having a peak design capacity to treat sewage of 21 or more equivalent persons is defined as ERA 15 under Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998.These activities are level 1 ERAs and need a development permit and a registration certificate.
Subject to meeting certain criteria, a development permit with standard conditions (streamlined development permit) may be issued for certain types of this activity — ERA 15(a) and ERA 15(h) — if all the information required for assessment, as detailed in the information sheet Streamlined development approval for sewage treatment - ERA 15a and h, is supplied with the application for a development permit.
The Department of Natural Resources and Water declared several wild rivers under the Wild Rivers Act 2005 to preserve the natural values. For more information and guidance regarding legislative requirements under the Wild Rivers Act 2005 for applications made within declared wild river areas, please look at Activities In Wild River Areas.
Guidelines and policies
You should refer to the following documents when preparing your application.
Streamlined applications:
Information sheet: Streamlined development approval for sewage treatment - ERA 15a and h
Non-streamlined applications:
Information sheet: Information for applicants for an environmentally relevant activity (ERA)
Streamlined and non-streamlined applications:
Guideline: Framework for managing sewerage infrastructure to reduce overflows and environmental impacts
Guideline: Sewage treatment works and peak design capacity
Information sheet: Greywater and sewage in the Environmental Protection Act 1994
Operational policy: Approving multiple units of sewage treatment works
Operational policy: What are ancillary works for sewage treatment works?
Operational policy: Approval of sewage treatment plants including options for use of reclaimed water?
Operational policy: Management for beneficial reuse of biosolids from sewage treatment plants (STP)
Pre-design conference service
For an activity devolved to local government, you should contact the relevant Council to discuss the proposal before you lodge your application.For ERAs administered by the EPA a ‘pre-design conference’ service is offered for projects which may include issues requiring a high level of assessment. This service includes meeting with an EPA project manager to discuss all the information requirements to be provided with your application.
For more details, read the Pre-design conference fact sheet.
This service can be initiated by contacting the Ecoaccess Customer Service Unit on 1300 368 326 or by email at eco.access@epa.qld.gov.au or completing a Pre-design conference application form. If a pre-design conference is required to discuss your application in more detail, an EPA officer will contact you directly.
Permits and approvals
The development permit will contain conditions to ensure that industry is conducted in a way that minimises impacts on the environment.The relevant local government must also be contacted regarding any requirements in addition to the ERA matters for the development permit.
Forms and fees
There are a number of categories within this ERA. Different fees apply to each category. These fees are listed in the information sheet Summary of fees - environmentally relevant activities.Where streamlined, application forms can be obtained online as part of an information kit for this ERA.
Otherwise, application forms can be obtained online or by contacting the EPA Ecoaccess Customer Service Unit on 1300 368 326.
Last updated: 10 July 2008
