Work is underway on a major wastewater upgrade in Kippa-Ring, while a separate testing programme across the Redcliffe Peninsula is helping Unitywater identify faults that can put extra pressure on the sewerage network during heavy rain.
Residents across the Redcliffe Peninsula may see two different types of wastewater work taking place over the coming months. One involves new pipes and improvements to a pumping station on Hercules Road in Kippa-Ring. The other uses artificial smoke to find faults in sewer pipes and private plumbing connections that can allow rainwater into the wastewater system.
Although the projects are separate, both form part of Unitywater’s efforts to maintain reliable services as established neighbourhoods age and new developments add to demand.
At Hercules Road, the utility is upgrading an existing gravity wastewater main and pump station, installing approximately 400 metres of new pipe and constructing new maintenance holes.
The improvements are intended to support new developments in Kippa-Ring, Newport, Rothwell and Morayfield South.
Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Mike Basterfield said the project was among several upgrades being delivered across Moreton Bay.
“The works also include an upgrade to the gravity wastewater main and pump station on Hercules Road, including 400 metres of new pipe and new maintenance holes. This upgrade will support new developments in Newport, Rothwell, Kippa Ring and Morayfield South,” he said.
Construction on the first stages of the wider wastewater upgrade programme began in September 2026, with work continuing across different locations until June 2027.
When Rainwater Finds Its Way into Sewer Pipes
While the Hercules Road project focuses on upgrading infrastructure, Unitywater’s smoke-testing programme is designed to identify problems in the existing wastewater network.
During heavy rainfall, stormwater can enter sewer pipes through damaged infrastructure, faulty connections or incorrectly connected drainage. That additional water can overwhelm parts of a system designed primarily to carry wastewater from homes and businesses.
To find potential entry points, crews introduce non-toxic artificial smoke into sections of the sewer network. Where smoke escapes through a damaged pipe, faulty fitting or other opening, it can indicate a location requiring further investigation.
Unitywater announced on 12 October that its annual testing programme was underway across Moreton Bay, including Kippa-Ring, Rothwell, Redcliffe, Margate, Clontarf, Scarborough and Woody Point.
According to Unitywater, approximately 4,000 defects in private plumbing connections have been identified across Moreton Bay over the past five years, with 85 per cent rectified.
Mr Basterfield said the repairs had helped reduce the amount of stormwater entering the wastewater network.
“Across Moreton Bay 85% of these defects have been rectified, which has reduced stormwater inflow by 24%, which reduces the likelihood, frequency and volume of overflows occurring,” he said.
The figures relate to the wider Moreton Bay testing and rectification programme, rather than to Kippa-Ring or the Redcliffe Peninsula alone.
What Happens if Smoke Testing Finds a Problem?
The smoke-testing programme has already uncovered thousands of plumbing faults across Moreton Bay, many of which property owners may not have known existed.
According to Unitywater, approximately 4,000 defects in private plumbing connections have been identified during the programme’s first five years. These include incorrectly installed or poorly maintained overflow relief gullies, which are designed to prevent sewage backing up inside buildings, and downpipes illegally connected to the wastewater system.
About 85 per cent of those defects have since been rectified, contributing to a reported 24 per cent reduction in stormwater entering the wastewater network across Moreton Bay.
The investigations extend beyond household plumbing. During the last financial year, Unitywater inspected 14,600 maintenance holes, looking for problems such as loose covers and tree roots that can cause blockages or allow stormwater into sewer pipes.
For residents in Clontarf, Kippa-Ring, Margate, Redcliffe, Rothwell, Scarborough and Woody Point, smoke testing will continue over the coming 12 months.
The artificial smoke is safe, non-toxic and non-staining. It is introduced into wastewater pipes and becomes visible where it escapes through vents, cracks or faulty connections, helping crews identify locations that may need further investigation.
Residents do not need to be home during testing and can expect a letter in their mailbox approximately two weeks before crews arrive.
If a fault is identified in private plumbing, Unitywater says it will ask the customer to take reasonable steps to have the problem rectified.
The testing is particularly important during heavy rainfall, when excess stormwater entering sewer pipes can increase the risk of wastewater overflowing onto private properties or into the surrounding environment.
For residents, the distinction matters. The Hercules Road project involves construction to improve wastewater infrastructure, while smoke testing is an inspection process that may identify problems in existing pipes or private plumbing.
Unitywater says properties selected for smoke testing will generally receive at least 14 days’ advance notice. The testing does not require access inside homes and is not expected to interrupt wastewater services.
The utility has not provided specific traffic arrangements or a separate completion date for the Hercules Road construction in its latest announcement. Its delivery partner, Abergeldie, is undertaking the wider upgrade works, which are expected to finish in June 2027.
Unitywater’s broader five-year infrastructure programme involves $2 billion in water and wastewater investment across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa. That is a region-wide commitment, not the cost of the Kippa-Ring project.
As the peninsula accommodates further development, the two programmes illustrate the work involved in maintaining the network from different directions: adding capacity where it is needed while finding faults that can undermine the performance of infrastructure already in the ground.
Published 14-October-2026
