For two hours at its final meeting for the year, Noosa Shire councillors debated whether to contract an independent review of Burgess Creek water flow.
They finally voted to delay the decision until a fast-tracked council report on Burgess Creek being conducted as part of a shire-wide study on water quality issues was completed.
“Over the past year I have become increasingly concerned in learning the history of the Burgess Creek catchment and when engaging with our community understanding that my concern is matched,“ Cr Lorentson told council’s ordinary meeting.
After asking for data six months ago that has not yet been forthcoming, Cr Lorentson said she was seeking “an independent review to cut through the bureaucracy and seek plain and simple answers“.
“While I have the utmost respect for our staff and the staff of Unitywater, I have not been satisfied with the responses received and am now seeking an independent review,“ she said.
Cr Lorentson said the community had raised concerns about the impact of the discharge from the creek and Unitywater wastewater treatment plant on the environment and infrastructure, and with mis-information circulating and government mistrust evident, an independent review would provide real answers.
Council chief executive officer Scott Waters backed Cr Lorentson, saying he was willing to provide finance from the CEO’s discretionary funds for the review which he expected would cost about $20,000, and Unitywater was also supportive of the move, having committed the provision of historical data.
Other councillors were less enamoured with the proposal and prepared to wait for a report on shire-wide water quality that was currently being undertaken by council staff.
Cr Brian Stockwell said the shire had “bigger water quality problems elsewhere“ than Burgess Creek and submitted the results of a 2021 water quality monitoring analysis report prepared by Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee showing pollution rates ranging from B to F with F the worst case scenario.
The report from the group which he said had 30 years of water quality monitoring experience used long-term results in its analysis dating back to 2005 for Murdering and Eenie creeks and Lower Noosa Estuary and from 2010 for Castaways, Burgess, Peregian and Cranks creeks, then it provided each a Waterwatch grade rating.
Peregian Creek rated highest with a B, Murdering, Casterways and Burgess creeks as well last Lower Noosa Estuary (monitored at Noosa Waters entrance) were rated C, while both Eenie and Cranks creeks were given F-ratings.
Cr Stockwell said “diffuse sources“ was contributing more to pollution in the river system than a point source regulated by the state government.
The wastewater treatment plant at Burgess Creek had been operating for decades and going through a good process, he said.
Cr Tom Wegener regarded the proposed independent review as an ad hoc approach as council was conducting a study on all catchments.
Cr Lorentson said concerns raised by residents went further than water quality to the impacts on the volume of water running through Burgess Catchment.
She said Unitywater-supplied data showed the creek flow included runoff from stormwater drains, night soil trenches and old landfill.
“The main issue is the volume of water. The creek is not supposed to be constantly flowing,“ she said. “What’s being discharged, what is the volume, where is it coming from, where is it discharging. Is there a better way to do things.“
Cr Lorentson said she wanted to know if the creek flow posed risks and if so what they were.
Cr Frank Wilkie said council should progress in the right order.
Staff are already getting this data together. We’ll have the opportunity to see the data, review its veracity. If after the review we’re still unsatisfied it would be appropriate to go to another source of truth – an independent review, he said.
It’s unprecedented council would undercut the staff in this way, Cr Wilkie said.
Cr Lorentson agreed it was the “perfect way forward“.
In the end, councillors voted unanimously to bring forward to councillors a report by staff on water quality issues affecting Burgess Creek Catchment detailing a review of historical water quality data including water discharge volumes; a review of the permit and equivalent person capacity of the plant;
environmental impact of Wastewater Treatment Plant outflows into the Burgess Creek catchment against the historical Environmental Impact Statement; and any other matters deemed appropriate for reporting.
Councillors decided that after reviewing staff information if another source of truth was required then an independent review of Burgess Creek wastewater treatment flow would be done by a suitable engineering and environmental firm.
