Artist impression of the new Lowood Sewage Treatment Plant with established landscaping

Urban Utilities has invested $45 million to upgrade the sewerage system for the towns of Lowood and Fernvale to cater for future growth and development in the area.

Latest news
We are excited to announce as part of the finalisation of the Lowood Fernvale Sewer Upgrade Project the landscaping of the area outside the new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on Forest Hill Fernvale Road was completed in June 2023.

The landscaping has been placed in the area indicated in red in the map below. For an example of what to expect, please see the artist impression above. 

  
What can I expect?

As the landscaping has now been completed it will be maintained by for a further 12 months and then passed to the Council for ongoing care.

Photos of the area whilst being maintained to allow the trees to become established

When is this happening?

Landscaping maintenance will be in place for 12 months ending in June 2024 and then handed over to the Council to provide ongoing care.

To find out more

To find out more about the Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade, you can:

  • Email us via Community.Feedback@urbanutilities.com.au, or
  • Call our Contact Centre on 13 26 57 (8am - 6pm)

Thank you for your patience during this essential work.

Urban Utilities has invested $45 million to upgrade the sewerage system for the towns of Lowood and Fernvale, located in Somerset Regional Council, South East Queensland to cater for future growth and development in the area. 

The Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade includes the following:
  • Lowood sewage treatment plant – constructed on Forest Hill Fernvale Road, Vernor, consisting of a three storey treatment plant, vehicle access, a ring road, a number of buildings, tanks and related infrastructure.
  • Lowood sewerage pump station - built at the site of the existing Lowood sewage treatment plant on Forest Hill Fernvale Road (near the intersection with Prospect Street), Lowood).  This pump station will transfer sewage to the new Lowood sewage treatment plant.
  • Ferny Gully sewerage pump station – located off Carralluma Crescent in Fernvale, to transfer sewage from Fernvale to the new Lowood sewage treatment plant.
  • Lowood rising main - 1.6 km of underground sewer rising main connecting the new Lowood sewerage pump station to the new Lowood sewage treatment plant. 
  • Fernvale rising main - 6.4 km of underground sewer rising main connecting the new Ferny Gully sewerage pump station to the new Lowood sewage treatment plant.
LSRM alignment
Alignment of the new pipeline joining the new Lowood Pump Station to the new Lowood Sewage Treatment Plant

 

Aerial footage of project under construction (March 2019)

  

Project Fly Through - see the full project alignment in one short video.
Thrust boring pipes under Forest Hill Fernvale Road for future connection to the Lowood Sewage Treatment Plant.
Time Lapse at the Lowood Sewage Treatment Plant site - seven months of construction (May to November 2018) in 40 seconds

Construction site sign at Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade

Construction site sign at Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade

Construction site signage at Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade.

Somerset Council Mayor and our CEO at turning of the sod.

Somerset Council Mayor and our former CEO, Louise Dudley, at the turning of the sod.

Green field sewage treatment plant at Vernor

Location of new sewage treatment plant in Vernor.
Fact sheet

The Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade fact sheet can be found here.

Project updates
Notification letters
  • 27 March 2018 - Lowood-Fernvale Sewer Upgrade project start of construction notification letter
  • 21 May 2018 - Ferny Gully Sewerage Pump Station start of construction notification letter
  • 29 May 2018 - Ferny Gully Sewer Rising Main start of construction notification letter
  • 18 June 2018 - Ferny Gully Sewer Rising Main progress to Brisbane Valley Highway notification letter
  • 17 July 2018 - Ferny Gully Sewer Rising Main progress to Forest Hill Fernvale Road notification letter