GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT – 17 JULY 2023 · Committee to Council report

ORDINARY MEETING                                                                        20 JULY 2023


In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stockwell provided the
following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
 I, Cr Stockwell, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter due to
the fact that as President of the Noosa Lions Football Club (NLFC) I have land and water
management responsibilities for approximately 4.5 ha of the Girraween Sports Complex. This
involves the application of mainly organic, slow release and calcium-based fertilisers and herbicide
over what is a sizeable holding in terms of the catchment. The club also uses groundwater for
irrigation and has used surface water and recycled water in the past. The downstream impact of
sports fields are potential risk factors for the quality of surface waters in the catchment. Considering
the volunteer and community nature of my role with NLFC and the fact that the club is not likely to
gain or lose from the proposed monitoring program, I choose to leave the meeting.


In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson provided the
following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
I, Cr Lorentson inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as my
brother Gabriel Cerasani lives approximately 3 kilometres from Burgess Creek. Also, until recently,
my brother was on the executive of the Eastern Beaches Protection Association who have made
submissions regarding issues with Burgess Creek, including raising a petition on the matter.
Considering recent advice given to Councillors by the Office of Independent assessor, that is, to
exercise an 'abundance of caution', I believe it is prudent to declare a conflict of interest. It is
important to note, that I have taken myself off the CHAP and the Eastern Beaches Foreshore
Management Plan because of my brother’s involvement on the EPBA. An Integrated Catchment
Management Plan for Burgess Creek is not part of the CHAP nor part of CHAP solutions. It is part
of a broader, Noosa Catchment strategy of waterways. What I have been requesting since June
2022, is an analysis and review of environmental monitoring and impacts for the Noosa Sewage
Treatment Plant releases into Burgess Creek and the catchment. Matters regarding Water Quality
Issues affecting Burgess Creek catchment, and environmental impacts of Wastewater Treatment
Plant outflows into the Burgess Creek catchment. Burgess Creek catchment covers roughly 545
hectares, it drains from the back of residential developments in Noosa Head, through bushland and
community facilities near Eenie Creek Road, and then through a Council-managed Bushland
Reserve and National Park. It affects and impacts thousands and thousands of people in the Shire.
The disposal of liquid waste into our waterways, including freshwater, oceans and rivers creates
social and environmental problems for the whole of Noosa Shire. This issue is a significant issue for
the whole community. Water quality has political, environmental, and legal implications for the whole
of shire of council. Many of these implications include risks to Council infrastructure such as
stormwater, open spaces and roads. In October 2022: I moved a Council resolution at the LGAQ
Conference: Regions becoming more Resource Independent through efficient use and re-use of
Wastewater. I called on the LGAQ to advocate to the State Government of Qld to undertake a state-
wide analysis of recycled water reuse that values the protection of local ecosystems and provides
suitable data to assist councils and water authorities and retailers in producing business cases for
water reuse. Supported (almost unanimously). In June 2023, I moved another Council resolution at
the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) calling 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
   •   Dedicated funding to be 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.
It was carried unopposed by 357 Councils in Australia. Both motions were supported unanimously
by this Council. I have also put forward a motion for Council approval for this year’s LGAQ
Conference in Gladstone calling for LGAQ to advocate to the State for a State Policy on Ocean
Sewerage Outfalls because we need to develop a standard, wastewater diversion targets and