Major maintenance blitz completed at Hughenden Sewage Treatment Plant

Published on 02 October 2026

Flinders Shire Council is pleased to announce that a major maintenance blitz at the Hughenden Sewage Treatment Plant is now complete, securing the ongoing reliability of one of the town's most important pieces of community infrastructure.

Council engaged specialist contractors alongside local suppliers to deliver the maintenance program, which involved the replacement of key components within the plant's inlet works, as well as extensive cleaning, servicing, and testing of critical equipment.

The inlet works form an important first stage of the sewage treatment process, helping remove debris and grit from incoming wastewater before treatment.

Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle said the works formed part of Council's ongoing commitment to maintaining essential water and wastewater infrastructure for the Hughenden community.

"The Hughenden Sewage Treatment Plant provides an essential service to our community, helping protect public health and the environment," Mayor Peddle said.

"A significant amount of work happens behind the scenes to keep these facilities operating effectively and this maintenance blitz provides a great opportunity to share some of that work with our community.

"Over the past two years, significant work has gone into identifying our issues around essential infrastructure and it’s very rewarding to now see those works completed after immense work and planning from our operational teams."

Mayor Peddle also acknowledged the vital role of local support throughout the project.

"We are so grateful for the efforts of our local contractors, and we've received fantastic feedback received for the works they completed," Mayor Peddle said.

"We made a point of using local wherever we could, and we are very lucky to have cranes in our region now to assist with projects like this. A huge thank you to everyone involved for delivering such a great result."

During the maintenance activities, workers encountered a range of items that should not have entered the sewer network, including an AirPod charging case.

"It's a timely reminder that only the three Ps should be flushed — and I'm sure you can work out what those are!" Mayor Peddle said.

"Items such as wipes, sanitary products, paper towels and other household waste can cause blockages, damage infrastructure, and increase operating costs."

Carefully planned contingency arrangements ensured wastewater services continued uninterrupted throughout the maintenance program.

The completed works form part of Council's ongoing investment in maintaining and improving critical wastewater infrastructure across the Shire, helping ensure these essential services continue to support the community now and into the future.