Unitywater and Noosa Council are undertaking a monitoring program to better understand how groundwater influences Burgess Creek.
The testing supports Noosa Council’s greater catchment management strategy and how it sustainably manages the waterway.
Unitywater recently installed four new groundwater monitoring bores and performed maintenance on one historical bore along the catchment to undertake sampling. Noosa Council determined each site based on existing bore locations, safe access for samplers and key areas of interest, such as run-off from sporting fields, residential and industrial areas to provide a ‘better picture’ of the movement and quality of groundwater in the catchment.
Unitywater executive manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Mike Basterfield said testing would occur monthly in line with creek sampling.
“Groundwater monitoring results will give us more data to understand how the catchment is working holistically and how each of the different water inflows contributes to waterway health,” Mr Basterfield said.
“Our initial two rounds of sampling have demonstrated how the groundwater can change, particularly with the depth of the groundwater. Bores are between one metre and ten metres deep and groundwater penetration from rainfall in the catchment affects the levels in the bore. The greater the flow of groundwater, the more potential the groundwater has to impact water quality in the creek.”
Mr Basterfield said the sampling tested for nutrient loads from the Burgess Creek catchment to monitor the impact on the ecological health of the creek.
“The Burgess Creek Catchment covers approximately 545 hectares and water from the surrounding landscape all drains into the creek, which affects the water quality in the creek,” Mr Basterfield said.
“Some of the things that contribute to the health of the creek include stormwater, which can wash sediments, rubbish and pollutants into the creek, potential leachate from old landfill sites, and droppings from native and domestic animals.
“The Noosa Wastewater Treatment Plant returns the community’s treated wastewater to the urban water cycle through Burgess Creek, and these flows help flush the creek, improving downstream water quality and keeping it flowing.”
Noosa Council Environmental Services Manager Ben Derrick said it was a significant project that would provide valuable information for the proposed Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan.
“This plan will be developed over the coming 12 months. The bores will provide us with a better understanding of groundwater flows, physio-chemical parameters and water quality so we can manage any impacts within the catchment,” he said.
“Noosa Council greatly appreciates the ongoing partnership with Unitywater on projects that improve water quality and catchment health. Together we are making some significant progress towards better catchment management.”
