Tumby Bay District Council

Tumby Bay is a coastal township situated on the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula, approximately 600 kilometres west of Adelaide by road. The town lies on the sheltered waters of Spencer Gulf and has historically been recognised as a commercial fishing and agricultural service centre, with farming (wheat, barley, canola, and livestock) forming the backbone of the district economy.

The township has a population of around 1,500 permanent residents, which expands significantly during peak holiday periods given its reputation as a seaside destination. The local foreshore, marina, and jetty precinct provide for recreational boating, fishing, and tourism, while the wider district benefits from aquaculture ventures including southern bluefin tuna and kingfish.

Tumby Bay is serviced by a reticulated Community Wastewater Management Scheme (CWMS). In 2007, Factor UTB was engaged to design and construct a new sewage treatment plant for the township. The activated sludge Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) facility was commissioned to produce high-quality recycled water, which is utilised for irrigation of local community assets including the foreshore reserve, sporting ovals, and the golf course.

In 2020, Tumby Bay District Council again engaged Factor UTB to design and deliver a capacity upgrade of the treatment facility. Accelerated population growth within the district created demand for additional treatment capacity earlier than forecast. The project was successfully completed within a four-month programme, increasing the peak treatment capacity to 595 kL/day.

Factor UTB has maintained a close operational relationship with Council since the original project, providing technical support and attendance as required. This long-standing partnership gave Council the confidence to directly engage Factor UTB for the capacity upgrade, without proceeding through a competitive tender process.