CQU Plant Sciences PhD candidate Ben Kele has been placed in the top 10 finalists for the Queensland Regional Achievers Awards.

Nominated by CQU’s Professor David Midmore, Mr Kele could be one of five award winners recognised for making a difference in their community. The purpose of the awards is to encourage, recognise, acknowledge and reward the valuable contribution individuals are making throughout Queensland.

Mr Kele’s nomination highlights his development of a new innovative technology for on-site wastewater treatment and reuse; a major outcome from his Masters thesis research.

Mr Kele has successfully commercialised the new technology with the formation of the company GBG Project Management Pty Ltd.

The Kele Effluent and Wastewater Treatment System (KEWT) is a unique system for the treatment of wastewater and effluent.

KEWT uses a mixture of biological treatment systems and reuses effluent through a self-contained recirculatory form of sub-surface irrigation.

Professor Midmore said the nomination also underscores the important community and charity contributions by Ben, carried out in parallel with his onerous research undertakings during his Masters thesis studies.

Mr Kele will travel to Cairns to attend the awards presentation evening on December 3.