Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                             11 JULY 2023


drainage and run-off from sporting fields.




Figure 1. Potential sources of impact on the Burgess Creek Catchment (Unitywater, 2023)

In September 2022 the internal working group began scoping the development of a Burgess Creek
Integrated Catchment Management Plan and developed a project initiation document (PID) to better
understand the broader catchment. The PID was submitted as part of the 23/24 budget planning
process. The PID outlines the scope for developing and Integrated Catchment Management Plan for
the Burgess Creek Catchment.

An Integrated Catchment Management Plan would link three main data components (strategic
stormwater management plan, water quality sampling, and a review of environmental factors):

   •   The stormwater discharge component will review catchment land use, infrastructure,
       discharges, stream flow management, hydrogeology and water quantity.
   •   The water quality sampling component will assess the impact of point and diffuse sources of
       contaminants across the catchment.
   •   The review of environmental factors will evaluate the impact of the surrounding urban
       development on the natural environment and the potential effect on public health.

Unitywater data request and subsequent meetings
An environmental authority (EA) is needed by a business to undertake an 'environmentally relevant
activity’ (ERA) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. An ERA is an industrial, resource or
intensive agricultural activity with the potential to release contaminants into the environment.
Unitywater’s Burgess Creek STP is subject to an EA under the Act, regulated by the Department of
Environment and Science (DES).

ERAs must comply with a set of conditions specific to their site which are set out in their EA to be
able to operate and release treated wastewater.

As part of their EA, Unitywater has a Receiving Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP). The
purpose of the REMP is to monitor the effects of the release of contaminants (treated wastewater)
on the receiving water environment i.e. Burgess Creek.




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