Historically, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) coordinated a liquid waste holding tank collection service on behalf of the community. Following a review in 2022, the council decided that as of 9th July 2023, it would no longer provide this service to our community. From 9th July 2023, residents became responsible for their own arrangements. The change in provision was believed to affect around 650 properties.
The MADCA has been a major advocate for a better deal for the community for more than 10 years.
At the MADCA General Meeting, in June 2025, Peter Gamgee presented data illustrating a significant cost difference for pump-out users on the range compared to Unitywater users on the coast. A single-person pump-out household incurs twice the cost of a similar coastal household, while a four-person pump-out household pays seven times more.
Resident, Brett Fairlamb, expressed his interest in investigating the feasibility of constructing a sewage treatment plant on the range. He highlighted the current burden on property owners for managing their pump-out capacity and noted the escalating costs associated with transport, processing, labour, and utilities.
Environmental concerns were also raised, including the lack of wastewater recycling and increasing CO2 emissions from current practices.
To progress this proposal, investment will be crucial from various stakeholders: the community, residents currently using pump-out services, and local and state government agencies (such as the State Assessment Referral Agency and the EPA).
Key requirements for the proposal include securing 50-80 acres of land for a treatment system capable of processing 200,000 litres per day. Brett suggested a hybrid treatment system utilizing chemicals and UV light, with an estimated cost of $3-4 million.
Further data is essential to advance the proposal. This includes understanding the specific volumes of wastewater current pump-out users are having removed, the frequency of their pump-outs, and the costs they are presently incurring.
Questions from attendees focused on the environmental impacts of the treated water and its dispersal, the quality of the processed water, and funding mechanisms for the system. Max Standage inquired whether MADCA should continue exploring the proposal, and those present indicated strong interest to proceed. A survey was suggested as a method for gathering the necessary data.
Councillor David Law confirmed that the Council could provide the number of pump-out users, but not their addresses.
If you are a pump-out user and wish to contribute to this initial data collection stage, please email Brett Fairlamb at fairlambbrett@gmail.com.. Kindly include: