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MOTION TO ALGA NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023 · Report
SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING 11 APRIL 2023
5.5 MOTION TO ALGA NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023
Author Chief Executive Officer, Scott Waters
CEO Office Department
Index ECM/Subject/ALGA
Attachments None
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has called for Council's attending this year's
National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra to submit motions for consideration and if deemed
appropriate the motion will be accepted and debated on the floor of the NGA. Should a motion be
resolved upon, it will then be further considered as a policy position of ALGA for lobbying to the
Australian Government.
The theme of this year's ALGA NGA is "our Communities our Future". It provides a time to reflect
on Local Government's position as the closest level of Government to the community and work
together in forming policy that is presented to the Australian Government to deliver a better future
and enhance our communities into the future.
To be eligible for inclusion in the NGA Business Papers, and subsequent debate on the floor of the
NGA, motions must meet the following criteria:
1. Be relevant to the work of local government nationally.
2. Not be focused on a specific jurisdiction, location or region – unless the project or issue has
national implications.
3. Be consistent with the themes of the NGA.
4. Complement or build on the policy objectives of ALGA and your state or territory local
government association.
5. Be submitted by a council which is a financial member of their state or territory local
government association.
6. Propose a clear action and outcome i.e. call on the Australian Government to act on
something.
7. Not be advanced on behalf of external third parties that may seek to use the NGA to apply
pressure to Board members, or to gain national political exposure for positions that are not
directly relevant to the work of, or in the national interests of, local government.
8. Address issues that will directly improve the capacity of local government to deliver services
and infrastructure for the benefit of all Australian communities.
9. Not seek to advance an outcome that would result in a benefit to one group of councils to the
detriment of another.
10. Be supported by sufficient evidence to support the outcome being sought and demonstrate
the relevance and significance of the matter to local government nationally.
Motions must commence with the following wording: This National General Assembly calls on the
Australian Government to ...
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee
Meeting dated 11 April 2023 regarding a motion to the Australian Local Government Association
National General Assembly 2023 and:
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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING 11 APRIL 2023
A. Approve the following motion that has been submitted to the Australian Local Government
Association:
"This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to formulate a National
Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at NO new ocean and estuarine sewerage
outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline, and that dedicated funding is
provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean
and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle
100% of all treated wastewater generated within their localities, and avoid the need to
discharge in the ocean."
B. Approve Cr Amelia Lorentson to present this motion at the National General Assembly noting
Councillor Lorentson has formed this motion.
REPORT
In forming the motion, Cr Lorentson has worked with Council Officers and members of the
community. Further detail relating to this motion as formed by Cr Lorentson is below:
National Objective:
Why should this be debated at the NGA?
Our beaches and coastline are some of our most important public places. It is unacceptable that in
2023, treated and untreated sewage is still being discharged into our oceans. Our environment and
community demand a better way of managing waste. Wastewater creates a management problem
for local regional governments and wastewater providers that has environmental, socio-economic,
and public health consequences.
Advocating for a National Policy and Strategy that aims at no new ocean and estuarine sewerage
outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline and dedicated funding to develop new
methods and technologies and make every effort to recycle 100% of all treated wastewater
generated to avoid the need to discharge in the ocean, will also improve the long-term sustainability
of Council’s and wastewater providers infrastructure to communities across Australia.
Data gathered in 2016 from 165 of the 175 ocean and estuarine outfalls provide the first national
snapshot of wastewater discharges to Australia’s coastal environment.
The total volume of wastewater discharged to Australia’s oceans in 2016 was 1350 gigalitres:
equivalent to 2.7 Sydney harbours. The potential value of this water would have been more than
more than $1 billion, had as little as 20% been recycled (based on $1.95/kL recycled water charge
by Victoria’s Southeast Water). *Clean Ocean Foundation, Outfall Database
Background Information:
This is what is happening in our backyard in Noosa. We have a sewage Treatment Plant at Burgess
Creek that discharges treated effluent directly into the Coral Sea at Sunshine Beach. The significant
volume of discharge and constant outflow of treated effluent (including stormwater) going into
Burgess Creek and our oceans is, in my opinion, causing erosion to our dunes and coastal
ecosystems that are threatening road infrastructure and private homes.
I question and will continue to question why an activity of dumping treated wastewater and
contaminated stormwater into our oceans is tolerated, and in fact legal.
Are we tolerating practices that compromise the environment, are reasonably foreseeable and
preventable?
Is it environmental best practice?
Is the ‘permitted use’ and environmental practices that were ok 20 plus years ago to dump treated
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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING 11 APRIL 2023
effluent directly into the ocean still relevant?
And if we are ok with it, and the water quality has met recycled water quality criteria, then why aren’t
we reusing it?
In October 2022, I travelled to Cairns for the LGAQ Conference to get Wastewater Reuse on the
State's list of priorities. Upheld by almost all councils (201 for and 15 against).
We need to create a State and a water industry that supports less wasteful distribution and use of
water as well as water treatment and recycling. And that requires legislative changes and
governmental support and incentives for the utilization of reclaimed wastewater. As a State,
Queensland recycles approximately 15% of treated wastewater. In Noosa it is less than 1% of treated
wastewater that is being reused. The remainder is being dumped into our oceans and rivers, causing
environmental damage, pollution, and erosion.
According to Department of Environmental Science, that is about 290 gigalitres per annum. Treated
wastewater is an underutilised resource and it is bankable.
It is time that it is re-evaluated for its worth not only in capital costs, but full costs to councils,
community, and most importantly environment.
UNESCO has made it clear that climate change and water quality is one of the biggest threats to the
health of our environment and community.
Therefore, we need to formulate a National Policy that aims at NO new ocean and estuarine
sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline, and that dedicated funding is
provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and
estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle 100% of
all treated wastewater generated within their localities and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean.
People and Planet before Profit.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil
Finance
Nil
Risk & Opportunities
As per the report and advised by Cr Lorentson.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
As advised by Cr Lorentson.
Internal Consultation
Departments/Sections Consulted:
Mayor Community Services Corporate Services
Councillors Director Director
Community Development Financial Services
x Chief Executive Officer Community Facilities Fleet
Executive Support Libraries & Galleries ICT
Local Laws Procurement
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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING 11 APRIL 2023
Waste & Environmental Health Property
Revenue Services
Executive Services Environment & Sustainable Development Infrastructure Services
Director x Director Director
Community Engagement Building & Plumbing Services Asset Management
Customer Service Development Assessment Buildings and Facilities
Governance Economic Development Civil Operations
People and Culture x Environmental Services Disaster Management
Strategic Land Use Planning Infrastructure Planning,
Design and Delivery