Communities surrounding North Lakes are among those set to benefit from a series of upgrades at Unitywater’s Murrumba Downs Wastewater Treatment Plant, as the utility expands infrastructure to support growth across Moreton Bay.
The treatment plant services approximately 187,000 homes and businesses in Dakabin, Griffin, Kallangur, Mango Hill and Murrumba Downs, as well as Bray Park, Joyner, Lawnton and Strathpine. It processes around 25 megalitres of wastewater each day—the equivalent of about 5.5 million toilet flushes.
The upgrades are part of Unitywater’s $500 million renewals and replacements program, which is aimed at strengthening water and wastewater infrastructure throughout its service region.
Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Mike Basterfield said the works included a range of improvements designed to support the plant’s ongoing operation.
The project involves refurbishing the plant’s bioreactor, replacing aeration diffusers that supply oxygen to microorganisms used in the treatment process, upgrading a cloth media filter tank and constructing a new aeration tank to improve biological treatment.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Upstream of the treatment plant, crews have also installed a 16-metre-high barometric loop—a distinctive U-shaped structure that uses gravity and atmospheric pressure to maintain efficient wastewater flow.
According to Unitywater, the new structure will increase pumping efficiency while helping reduce odour and the risk of blockages in the wastewater network.
Mr Basterfield said the crane lift also drew the attention of children from nearby Green Leaves Early Learning Centre, who later visited the site dressed in miniature high-visibility safety vests.
The barometric loop was installed by Dormway earlier this year, while Downer is delivering the remaining works. The full program is expected to be completed by November 2026.
Almost 2,300 properties across Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Bray Park, Strathpine and Warner will have digital water meters installed during June. This rollout helps Unitywaterprovide faster leak identification, earlier notification of potential leaks to customers, clearer billing and a more complete picture of water use across the network.
The rollout follows an ongoing wave of installations completed across the region. Unitywater Acting Executive Manager Customer Experience Steve Wimberley said since March 2026, Unitywater has installed about 4,000 digital water meters across its service region and sent out more than 160 notifications advising customers they may have a leak.
For Kallangur households, the upgrade means a meter capable of catching exactly the kind of water loss that leads to an unexpected spike on the next bill.
How digital water meters detect leaks earlier
The digital meters provide daily visibility of water consumption to help catch issues early. While a traditional meter is read once every three months, this digital upgrade flags unusual usage patterns much faster, giving Unitywater the ability to alert a household before costs compound.
Photo Credit: Unitywater/YouTube
Mr Wimberley said the installation approach is deliberate.
“We’re installing the meters in ‘network blocks’, which are defined by the water supply infrastructure layout, rather than street-by-street,” he said. “This means residents may see their neighbours’ meters being upgraded but not theirs yet and this is an intentional operational approach.”
Pilot program delivers strong savings and leak detection
The numbers from Unitywater’s pilot program give a clear sense of scale. The pilot program installed digital technology in 10,000 properties and delivered more than 800 million litres of water savings, more than $5 million in customer savings, and early leak identification support for more than 3,500 households.
This technology aims to prevent scenarios where property owners go away for extended periods and return home to major, undetected water damage. A digital meter flags unusual usage patterns early rather than letting a hidden leak run unchecked for weeks.
What residents need to know about the upgrade
Customers scheduled to receive a digital meter in the next six months will receive a letter from Unitywater, followed by a notice approximately five to 10 days before their installation window. Residents do not need to be home for the upgrade, which takes between five minutes and one hour to complete.
“We don’t always need to turn off your water for this upgrade, but if we do, we will notify you beforehand,” Mr Wimberley said.
There is no additional fee for customers who receive the digital meter as per Unitywater’s schedule. However, customers wishing to have an early upgrade can opt in, which may incur an additional fee.
A plain brick pump station in Bray Park has turned into a burst of colour after local artist Daniel Krause painted a large-scale mural featuring native wildlife, bringing art and community pride to one of Unitywater’s essential utility sites.
The mural was completed in early September 2025 as part of Unitywater’s Community Art Program. The initiative aims to give local artists opportunities to brighten water and wastewater assets across the Moreton Bay region. The artwork covers the Francis Road wastewater pump station, featuring a green tree frog and butterfly on the front, with a koala and cockatoo on the side walls.
Photo Credit: Supplied
A swirling blue pattern connects each image, representing how water links every living thing and how Unitywater’s service supports that connection in daily life. Krause, who lives locally, spent about 25 hours completing the design using acrylic house paint and aerosol spray. He finished the surface with an anti-graffiti sealant to protect it from damage and keep the colours bright.
Community Vote Shapes The Design
Before painting began, Unitywater invited residents from Bray Park and nearby suburbs to vote on which local animals should appear. A total of 153 votes were received, and the final mural reflected the community’s top choices.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Unitywater’s Executive Manager of Strategic Engagement, Joshua Zugajev, said the art program helps turn plain assets into something people enjoy seeing every day. He said it allows artists to create while giving locals a sense of pride and ownership in shared spaces.
Strengthening Local Connection Through Art
The Bray Park project follows a similar artwork completed on Bribie Island by local wildlife scientist and artist Jayda Bruce. Both projects form part of Unitywater’s ongoing effort to make infrastructure more engaging while reflecting local environments.
Residents who pass the pump station now see a colourful reflection of the wildlife that defines the Moreton Bay area. The mural serves as a reminder of the region’s biodiversity and the shared value of protecting natural resources.
Supporting A Growing Community
Unitywater provides water and wastewater services to more than 800,000 people across Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Noosa. The organisation plans to invest $2 billion in infrastructure over the next five years and continues to employ over 700 people locally.
The Community Art Program aligns with its broader goal of fostering healthy, thriving communities while promoting sustainability and visual improvement of public assets.
Deception Bay was among the suburbs that received wastewater pipe relining as Unitywater carried out a large-scale program to reduce odour and prevent overflows across the Moreton Bay region.
Over a two-year period, the utility reported that it had relined 53 kilometres of wastewater mains and renewed 317 maintenance holes across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa as part of a $400 million replacements and renewals program.
Within the Moreton Bay area, about 26 kilometres of pipes were relined and 91 maintenance holes renewed. In Deception Bay, 74.3 metres of pipe were relined, while another 29.8 metres were completed in Eatons Hill.
The works used trenchless techniques rather than full excavations. Unitywater said crews applied spiral PVC relining and cured-in-place UV polymer liners to the inside of existing pipes — methods the utility described as less disruptive and more cost-effective than digging up and replacing entire sections, particularly in built-up suburbs.
Residents raised odour concerns in Deception Bay
Residents in a local Deception Bay Facebook group had voiced frustration about unpleasant smells in tap water in late 2024 and early 2025, reporting odours variously described as chlorine-like and earthy.
Authorities, including Seqwater and Unitywater, explained that such taste and odour issues reported across parts of south-east Queensland were most often caused by naturally occurring algae or bacteria in raw water sources. These compounds could affect smell and taste but, agencies stressed, did not necessarily mean the water was unsafe to drink.
Program aimed to prevent overflows and improve network reliability
Photo supplied
Unitywater’s maintenance program also targeted sewer-related causes of odour. The utility noted that hydrogen sulphide, the gas produced in wastewater, could be corrosive and over time damage concrete and metal pipework, increasing the risk of faults and overflows.
Crews carried out CCTV inspections, jet-blasting to remove debris, tree-root removal, and, where needed, raised maintenance holes so that stormwater could not flood into the wastewater network during heavy rain.
While Unitywater stated that the relining should reduce odour complaints and improve network operability over time, the work was not considered a single-fix for all local water-smell concerns. Tap-water odours could stem from a range of sources, including household plumbing. Water authorities advised residents to run taps for a minute or two, check whether the smell affected only one fixture, and report persistent problems to their water provider for testing and investigation.
For many people in Deception Bay, the relining work was largely invisible but still relevant. Unitywater positioned the upgrades as part of its long-term effort to reduce smells, lower overflow risk, and maintain ageing underground infrastructure.
Narangba and Deception Bay have been named in Unitywater’s latest list of top ten wastewater blockage hotspots, prompting a call for residents to avoid flushing or rinsing unsuitable items.
Unitywater recorded 4,395 wastewater blockages across its service areas of Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa during 2024–25. Almost one quarter of these occurred in just ten suburbs, which included five in Moreton Bay: Caboolture, Redcliffe, Clontarf, Narangba and Deception Bay.
Photo Credit: Unitywater
Causes of Blockages
Common causes included items not designed to break down in water, such as wet wipes, paper towels, tissues, nappies, tampons, and cotton buds. These products can combine with fats, oils and food scraps to create larger blockages. The problem extends from household pipes to street mains and pumping systems that move wastewater to treatment plants, increasing maintenance costs and community inconvenience.
Narangba and Deception Bay Among Hotspots
Narangba recorded 89 blockages, while Deception Bay had 82 over the 12-month period. Other Moreton Bay suburbs on the list included Caboolture with 134, Redcliffe with 92, and Clontarf with 90. These figures highlight an ongoing need for community awareness around household waste disposal practices.
Photo Credit: Unitywater
Community Impact
Large blockages can cause wastewater to back up through household drains or overflow into streets. These incidents carry public health risks and may also affect the natural environment. Residents are being encouraged to use small bins in bathrooms, wipe pans before washing, and collect cooking oils in containers for disposal in household bins. Simple habits can significantly reduce the likelihood of damage and disruption.
Unitywater has highlighted ongoing education campaigns to reduce the impact of non-flushable and non-drainable items. The organisation continues to remind households across Narangba, Deception Bay and other suburbs that only the “three Ps” — pee, poo and paper — should go down the toilet. Continued messaging aims to lower blockages, improve system reliability, and protect waterways in the region.
At Unitywater’s Mango Hill office, Alexandra Meaney sat at her desk, reflecting on how much had changed in just three months. Fresh out of university with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resources, she had stepped into Unitywater’s Vacation Work Program with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Now, as the internship wrapped up, she wasn’t just walking away with experience—she had landed a permanent job.
She wasn’t alone. Ten interns, including Ms Meaney, had been offered ongoing employment after completing the program. For many, it was their first real step into the workforce, a transition made smoother by an environment that offered both responsibility and support.
“This program is a great pathway into the workplace – you’re given a lot of responsibility and treated as an equal member of the team, but with a lot of support, trust and encouragement,” Ms Meaney said.
“Everyone’s been so lovely and welcoming – even little things like figuring out the systems, finding a desk or a meeting room – you feel completely supported.”
Alexandra Meaney – previous Unitywater intern now Full-Time Unitywater People Support Officer Photo Credit: Supplied
An Opportunity to Gain More Than Just Experience
For years, young professionals have faced the same challenge: breaking into the job market without prior experience. Unitywater’s Vacation Work Program was created to bridge that gap, offering university students a paid, real-world job experience. This year, 17 students took part, working across disciplines like engineering, science, ICT, communications, and analytics.
Unitywater’s Executive Manager of People, Culture and Safety, Kenan Hibberd, said the program has been running for 12 years, providing a stepping stone for students ready to move from study into the workforce. He said it’s also an opportunity to attract local talent into the water industry—an industry that many might not have previously considered.
For some interns, the program became more than just a stepping stone. Jordan Nicholson, a former participant from last year, had been in the same position as Ms Meaney, weighing his next move just before finishing his Bachelor of Science. The internship gave him something that other entry-level jobs often lacked—paid industry experience. Now, he works as a full-time Laboratory Assistant.
“I was just one month away from finishing my Bachelor of Science and starting to explore entry-level positions in the area, most of which required experience, or were not paid opportunities,” Mr Nicholson said.
“Unitywater’s Vacation Work Program was a fantastic opportunity as it provided me with industry experience while being paid to work four full days a week – it really gave me that point of difference looking for my first out-of-uni job.”
Jordan Nicholson – previous Unitywater intern now Permanent Unitywater Lab Assistant Photo Credit: Supplied
More Doors Opening for Young Professionals
Unitywater isn’t stopping at internships. The company also runs a Graduate Development Program, a two-year transition into the workplace for university graduates. This month, eight new participants will join the program.
Beyond that, there are apprenticeships and the Water Industry Work Program opportunities, creating more entry points for those looking to start their careers.
Investing in the Future of the Community
Unitywater isn’t just about water—it’s about people. The organisation provides water and wastewater services to more than 800,000 residents across Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Noosa, and it is investing $1.8 billion over the next five years to ensure sustainable growth.
For Ms Meaney and her fellow interns, the journey from university to employment was made easier through a supportive program that values fresh talent. For others considering their career options, Unitywater’s early career programs continue to offer a pathway into the workforce—one that doesn’t just promise experience, but a future.
