Noosa councillor Amelia Lorentson
At last Thursday’s Ordinary meeting I requested that Council resolve the following matters in regards to Burgess Creek as a matter of urgency:
A. Actions to be undertaken by Council to manage the Burgess Creek Mouth, including erosion management.
B. Council’s current and future plans in relation to the management of outflows and water quality from the Unity Water Wastewater Treatment Plant discharging into Burgess Creek.
C. Council’s obligations as a trustee, including, but not limited to:
1. Council’s responsibilities and obligations for stormwater pipes, culverts and other infrastructure which stormwater and treated wastewater are channelled.
2. Council’s duties in respect of downstream erosion caused to dunes and beaches as a result of storm water discharge and wastewater outflows from the Unity Water Wastewater Treatment Plant.
D. Possible funding options and opportunities from Unity Water, State and Federal governments for long-term integrated catchment and coastal management and infrastructure solutions.
My proposal was supported unanimously.
Background:
The northern end of Sunshine Beach to Plover Street at Peregian is a Reserve under the Qld Land Act (the Act) for Recreational Purposes of which Council is a trustee.
Under the Act, Noosa Council is bound as trustee over State land to exercise its duty of care for the land and the beaches under its control.
My comments:
Over the last two to three months, I have met with residents regarding the significant damage of the Burgess Creek Foreshore and concerns regarding the discolouration of the Burgess Creek flow.
They are concerned that the treated wastewater and stormwater flowing out of Burgess Creek is causing pollution, possible health risks and significant erosion to our dunes and beaches.
The four-metre drop from the dunes to the beach is a potential source of injury for beach users. And the erosion is threatening public infrastructure, roads and the coastal ecosystem.
Historically, Council has dug the creek and redirected the flow into the ocean.
Residents have raised concerns that failure to have done so over recent months, and the recent downpour that they believe has pushed all the stormwater into the creek plus the treated wastewater from Unity Water, has resulted in the significant foreshore damage.
The treated wastewater and stormwater are flowing consistently, eroding dunes by what some residents estimate at two metres a day. This is not (IMO) mother nature at work.
Over the last two months chief executive officer and Council staff have met with residents and have advised residents that action is underway to re-establish the river mouth of the Burgess Creek and re-direct the creek discharge to the ocean.
My proposal seeks details of this commitment, including the following data and information:
• Unity Water figures on amount of wastewater discharge over the last 20 years.
• The actual amount of stormwater being discharged into the Creek.
• Evidence/footage that the footage entering the creek is in fact naturally occurring tannins.
• “WARNING – creek water contains treated sewage effluent”. How much sewage effluent? What are acceptable levels? If the levels are acceptable, why isn’t the water re-used for irrigation, public cleaning… Or should we be arguing, as one of the three shareholders of Unity Water, that there is no acceptable level. (Unity Water is a statutory authority, with three shareholders, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils.)
• Council’s obligations as trustee in respect of downstream erosion caused to dunes and beaches as a result of storm water discharge and wastewater outflows from the Unity Water Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Council’s responsibilities for stormwater pipes, culverts and other infrastructure which stormwater and treated wastewater are channelled.
• Council’s current and future plans in relation to the management of outflows and water quality from the Unity Water Wastewater Treatment Plant discharging into Burgess Creek.
It also requests consideration of the following short term and longer-term solutions:
• Short-term solutions such as temporarily barricading portions of the beach where there is a risk of someone being hurt, and other actions such as re-profiling the beaches and sand to stop the dune erosion.
• Longer-term solutions, such as an armour rock revetment system at the creek mouth or the use of geofabric bags.
•A long- term investment strategy and water management plan.
I propose that Council investigates and explores potential partners and partnership opportunities and funding with Unity Water, State and Federal government to develop a water management plan – a long- term integrated catchment and coastal management and infrastructure solutions.
Noosa residents pay stamp duty and land tax to the State government and, given the 36.5 per cent increase in land valuations, there is a strong case for Council to put together a funding package for the State government. (Noosa Shire Council on 31 March 2022, the Valuer General released land valuations for 22,183 properties with a total value of $13,087,399,600).
For example:
Bondi Beach: In 2012 Waverley Council built the Bondi Stormwater Scheme, which diverts 50 million litres of stormwater from being discharged into the ocean every year and treats it so it can be re-used for public cleaning, toilets and irrigation.
And The Mary River Rehabilitation success story at Kenilworth where about 20 years ago, floods cut away thousands of cubic metres of farmland, that released sediments in catchments flowing onto the Great Barrier Reef.
In 2015, earthmoving equipment, and 6m long timber piles reshaped the eroded sand cliffs that have slowed the flow of floodwater and erosion in Kenilworth.
It took political will, community will and a long-term investment strategy to make this happen.
The same is needed in Noosa.
Noosa Beaches and our coastal dunes are one of our most important assets and must be protected and prioritised.
What we are seeing at Burgess Creek, is not (IMO) a natural occurrence. It’s the constant flow of sewage and the amount of stormwater during a weather event that is causing the erosion, not Mother Nature.
What we are witnessing is (IMO) an environmental emergency that requires us to respond and act:
Cut a direct channel, replenish the dunes, develop a water management plan with Unity Water and State, Federal government.
And finally, embed the value of our beaches by integrating natural assets into our asset management systems.
Since 2007, the Noosa Shire has held UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status that recognises our efforts to “manage the region’s land, waters and wildlife sustainably, in balance with its urban population and visitors across the globe”.
This is our chance to put words, into action. Noosa, different by nature.
(My proposal was supported unanimously by all the Councillors. A report will be coming back to Council in response to my proposal.)
This is the opinion and Notified Motion of Cr Amelia Lorentson, and does not necessarily represent the views of Council.
