The Fitzroy Basin Association has welcomed a $2 million project by the Consolidated Meat Group to reduce waste water discharge from its Lakes Creek Meat Works.

The company is to introduce water conservation measures and will irrigate treated effluent.

Regional co-ordinator of the Fitzroy Basin Association Suzie Christiansen says the project will improve water quality and reduce the impact of nutrient run off on the Great Barrier Reef.

"The sediment problem is one that sort of comes further downstream, from further upstream," she said. "And the nutrient problem is one that does affect the health of ecosystemsand the reef is a national asset, so yeah, anything we can do to protect that is important."

CMG Environment Manager Cheryl Green says the water project will also reduce odour complaints about the meat works effluent ponds at Nerimbera. Ms Green says it is part of on-going measures to reduce the impact on the environment, and a bio-filter installed early this year to reduce odours from the meat processing plant has been very successful.

"It's been in place for nearly 12 months and we had scientific tests done and found that the odour level had been reduced by 98.8 per cent," she said. "Consequently we have surveyed residents and they've all commented that there has been a huge reduction."

Monday 12 November, 2001 2:31pm AEDT

© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation.