The volume of treated wastewater discharges from Burgess Creek into our oceans and onto our dune systems has been a concern for both me and the residents of our community for some time. Through a sustained effort of advocacy and building good relations with Unitywater, we are beginning to see some positive progress toward improving the health of the Burgess Creek catchment. Although small, they are positive steps in the right direction until we secure funding for the Integrated Catchment Management Plan (ICMP). I wanted to provide an overview of what has been happening and the steps we are taking to address these concerns.
Federal and State Motions/Policy Advocacy:
At the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) conference, I had the opportunity to call on the Australian Government to strengthen environmental initiatives through investment in wastewater recycling, water reforms, innovation, and research. I am pleased to report that the motion was not only well-received but also supported unanimously by all the local governments across Australia, demonstrating the widespread recognition of the issue.
I am now preparing to head to the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) later this year with another critical motion that I hope will receive full support from the Noosa Council at this month’s July meeting. The potential impact of this motion is significant, as it calls on the State government to:
• Promote and encourage the adoption of wastewater recycling and diversion initiatives statewide.
• Allocate necessary funding to local governments and wastewater service providers for wastewater recycling and alternative treatment option trials such as biosolid gasification.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcomes of these projects to inform future policies and initiatives.
• Explore what other states are doing to address wastewater recycling to leverage collective knowledge and experience, supporting and guiding local governments and wastewater service providers in transitioning to a circular economy.
The urgency of securing funding and investment in upgrading wastewater treatment plants and the importance of wastewater and recycling diversion targets and projects cannot be overstated.
I will continue to advocate every year at ALGA and LGAQ to ensure the sustainability of our environment. An alternative treatment option trial, such as biosolid gasification, or other trials, like the Logan City Gasification project, must be what we strive for here in Noosa.
Our oceans and dune ecosystems are not dumping grounds for treated wastewater. We must strive to do better. We must change the things we cannot accept.
Upgrade of the bioretention basin on Cooyar Street:
Noosa Council has recently approved upgrading the bioretention basin on Cooyar Street in this year’s budget. This is excellent news. The 2022 bioretention assessment highlighted that the current basin is undersized and not performing to standards. Upgrading this basin is crucial in significantly improving stormwater quality entering the Burgess Creek catchment from Noosa Junction. It addresses pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus, critical in maintaining the ecology of downstream waters.
I would also like to note that the tap at Burgess Creek, installed some time ago, was also part of efforts to help manage the catchment by providing water to Burgess Creek bush care workers.
Developments at Bicentennial Station Street, Garnett Street, and David Low Way:
Noosa Councils Capital Program over the next five years includes the upgrade of wastewater pump stations at the following locations:
• David Low Way Bridge, Castaways Beach (nearing completion)
• Bicentennial Drive, Sunshine Beach (scheduled for 2025-2026)
• Garnett Street, Cooroy (scheduled for 2026-2027)
• Station Street, Pomona (TBC)
As these projects approach, Unity Water will communicate with local residents to provide an overview of the work and understand any potential localized impacts to be managed through construction methodology and site management.
Initiatives on Recyclying Wastewater for Irrigation
Unity Water and the Council are currently exploring the feasibility of using recycled water from the Noosa Wastewater Treatment Plant to irrigate the Girraween Sports Complex. The supply of recycled water to the sports complex was halted in 2016 due to concerns raised by the Council about the reliability of the supply and the necessary onsite controls. However, Unity Water has expressed a strong interest in establishing large-scale recycled water supply connections, which presents a promising opportunity for sustainable water management.
$11.5 Million Capacity Upgrade for Noosa:
The Noosa Wastewater Treatment Plant will undergo significant upgrades over the next five years, including the renewal of the UV system and SCADA systems. UnityWater is still planning, so no detailed timeline is available.
Future Collaboration Opportunities:
Unitywater has provided $50,000 in funding to Noosa Council to develop a framework for Burgess Creek’s Integrated Catchment Management Plan (ICMP). This funding builds on collaborative work undertaken in the Water Matters plan and will improve understanding and data collection of the entire Burgess Creek catchment. Council has engaged Bligh Tanner, a specialist water engineering consultancy, to develop the framework and install four groundwater monitoring bores, which are aimed to be in place by June.
Noosa Council has yet to approve the remaining funds for the ICMP development.
The Noosa Council’s Significant Water Matters Plan:
Seqwater, Unitywater, Noosa Council, and Sunshine Coast have partnered to develop an integrated water management plan for the region called Water Matters. The plan’s development involved extensive community engagement, and the final plan is due for review by the Program Control Group before final publication later this year
The Citizen Project:
In response to my inquiries about citizen scientists contributing to water quality monitoring, Unity Water has confirmed that trained professionals in NATA-accredited laboratories must collect samples. However, Unity Water is investigating the possibility of hosting a wastewater treatment plant tour for interested residents to gain insight into the wastewater treatment process within a working facility’s operational and safety constraints.
What NEXT:
The next step is to ask the Noosa Council to sign off on the remaining funding for the Integrated Catchment Management Plan/Burgess Creek Integrated Management Plan (including the Project Control Group) and secure survey funding to inform a Catchment Action Plan, which is still pending approval. I will request the findings of the University of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Council partnership project investigating erosion and flow and investigate the progress regarding potential changes under DES Water Quality Objectives (as defined under the Environmental Protection (Wetland and Biodiversity) Policy 2019), which aim to include flow targets and water quality objectives for Burgess Creek. Additionally, an exciting action is to meet with Unitywater to explore opportunities for collaboration on wastewater treatment projects.
(Please note this is my personal opinion and does not represent the position of council.)
