As a councillor, understanding the broader picture is essential – identifying pressure points, anticipating challenges, and developing strategies to address them. Noosa is facing increasing pressures from population growth, rising visitor numbers, and climate change.
These shifts will significantly impact our critical infrastructure and lifestyle, including roads, sewage facilities, landfills, housing, and our natural assets such as beaches, the Noosa River, and National Parks.
Preserving Noosa’s unique character and pristine environment must remain a priority. In my view, a key focus is ensuring that Noosa’s wastewater management responsibilities do not exceed its jurisdiction. At the same time, advocating for best practices and pursuing innovative solutions for wastewater management is essential.
Since 2020, Noosa Council has partnered with Unitywater to better understand and improve the Burgess Creek catchment, including rehabilitation of the riparian corridor, and impacts of urban stormwater and discharge from the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This collaboration has achieved meaningful progress, including groundwater monitoring, fish passage studies, and joint research on water quality with the University of the Sunshine Coast.
In 2023–24, I worked closely with the community to ensure their voices were included in Unitywater’s consultations for the Water Matters Plan, finalised in December 2024. This 30-year integrated strategy aligns with Noosa’s priorities through extensive engagement with residents, experts, and Traditional Custodians. Key initiatives of the plan include expanding the use of recycled water to reduce discharges and improve resilience, riparian regeneration to enhance biodiversity and combat erosion, enhanced stormwater management to reduce runoff and improve water quality, and wastewater treatment upgrades focused on nutrient removal, sustainable effluent management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining affordability.
Advocating for innovative environmental solutions at both federal and state levels has been a steadfast commitment. I have presented various motions on behalf of Noosa Council to advance these priorities. At the 2023 and 2024 ALGA National General Assembly, I advocated for a policy to prohibit new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls, paired with investments to support 100 per cent wastewater recycling. I advocated for federal funding of recycling and diversion projects. In 2025, I proposed a motion, adopted by the entire Council, to conduct a feasibility study on adopting a framework similar to the EU’s Urban Wastewater Treatment and Reuse policy. This policy aims to eliminate micropollutants from urban wastewaters by 2045 and incorporates the polluter pays principle. At the 2024 LGAQ Annual Conference, I called on the Queensland Government to invest in recycling and diversion projects, including biosolids gasification. I recommended state-wide promotion of recycling initiatives and collaborative learning from other regions.
Noosa Council is also awaiting confirmation from the LNP regarding the funding pledged by the State MP candidate and former Mayor Clare Stewart – $100,000 to support an independent study addressing the challenges of Burgess Creek. This study, in my view, should emphasize three key actions: ensuring clean water by prioritising the removal of micropollutants, pollutants, and contaminants from treated wastewater; expanding wastewater recycling initiatives to reduce discharges and enhance resilience; and exploring the feasibility of establishing a biosolids gasification facility inspired by Logan City’s successful gasification plant. Logan City’s $28 million facility sets an impressive national standard, transforming sewage into biochar—a valuable resource for agriculture and construction—while effectively eliminating persistent pollutants.
With partial funding from ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program, it cuts carbon emissions by 6000 tonnes annually and generates revenue and operational savings. Noosa could achieve incredible outcomes with similar investment and commitment.
These achievements demonstrate what can be accomplished when a community comes together for meaningful change. However, further action is needed to secure Noosa’s future. Logan City’s biosolids gasification facility serves as an inspiring example of how innovative technology can transform wastewater management. It continues to highlight what Noosa could achieve with similar investment and commitment.
By staying vigilant, leveraging funding opportunities, and championing best practices, we can safeguard Noosa’s environment, lifestyle, and community for generations to come. I remain committed to driving these efforts forward because even small steps today can shape a better tomorrow. After all, if we do nothing, nothing changes.
(Please note this is my personal opinion and does not represent the position of Noosa Council.)
