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From Water and Wastewater.com Industry News
The company has also recently become what it says is the first private firm in Australia authorised to provide water, sewage, recycled water and garbage services to any community. The Queensland Government gave it the green-light on the basis of its integrated systems which operate independent of the water mains. The company hopes councils will outsource their services in new developments to avoid upgrading infrastructure and shift the service risk to the private sector. Its first venture is a $1.47 million contract to provide wastewater treatment units for 300 existing and future properties at the Noosa North Shore Tourism Portal, plus on top of that to supply potable water and solid waste services. Craig Timms, co-founder of the Sunshine Coast company and director of R&D, keeps a tight lid on the details as there is a patent pending. But the technology combines digestion of solid green waste with membrane bioreactors. “We found there was a way to treat wastewater at the same time as you treat domestic waste using some pretty smart biotechnology and good common sense,” said Timms. His claims are backed up by research partners at the University of Queensland. Dr Bill Clark, head of Sustainable Technologies at the university, rated it as the world’s most advanced system of wastewater and solid organic waste treatment. Dr Howard Leemon, manager of the university’s commercialisation arm UniQuest, agrees. “As far as we know this type of technology has not successfully been done before,” he told WME. “The university has years of research in solid waste treatment and Craig has extensive experience in wastewater and urban development, so we’re pretty confident.” The technology has apparently begun to draw interest from mining companies, industrial areas, tourist resorts and individuals across the Asia-Pacific, including Xstrata’s coal mines at Mt Isa and a new top-shelf eco-village on Kakula Island in Vanuatu. Drought-proofed village Last month, Brisbane City Council Cr Helen Abrahams turned the first sod at EcoNova’s own eco-style village, developed with the support of the council, EPA and the University of Queensland. The 21-house development, called S3 Manly West, will double as a product display centre. Residents will use 50-60 per cent less potable water than in a conventional subdivision, according to Timms, with company claims that savings can go as high as 98 per cent when combined with normal water efficiency appliances. “A household could be drought-proofed for around $10,000, turning grey and black wastewater into a previously unattainable standard. The recycled water replaces drinking water in toilet flushing, irrigation and outdoor usage such as car washing,” he said. The project has been two years in the design, and will be a test of the company’s abilities after the council agreed to it providing the utility services. The development on the outskirts of Brisbane will not be connected to the water or wastewater network, which if successful will be a welcome advance as Queensland suffers its worst drought on record. Brian Stewart, chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, said S3 Manly West was one of the most exciting projects he had seen. He added the showcase would make it easier to approach local authorities for headworks concessions for sustainable urban developments. One local authority quoted $4 million to do all the headworks at Manly West, whereas EcoNova agreed to provide a drought-proofing service for $600,000. Brad Warren of property developer FKP has signed a contract with EcoNova to construct and operate a large-scale unit for the Peregian Springs development on the Sunshine Coast. He said it reduced the cost and size of the mains connection, did away with rainwater tanks and safely managed the health risk of recycling water. By the end of 2006 EcoNova aims its new factory in Nambour will have rolled out 600-800 NovaClear units. For more information contact: Mr. Christian Uhrig EcoNova Pty Ltd Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Uni 90 Sippy Downs Dr Sippy Downs, Queensland 4556 Australia Telephone: (07) 5450 1955 Fax: (07) 5450 1993 Email: christian@econova.com.au Web site: http://www.econova.com.au/ © Copyright 1998 - 2008 Water and Wastewater.com |
