2017-07-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     11 JULY 2017


In summary, the results of the initial project indicated impacts on the adjacent waterways from
raised hydrocarbon levels, high pH levels, electrical conductivity (salts), total nitrogen and
turbidity. The hydrocarbons were identified to be in the higher carbon fractions, indicating likely
contaminants were diesel, lubrication oils, heavy duty engine oil, and components of grease;
indicative of the types of industry within the stormwater catchment under investigation.

5.   Second Project – Inspection of former licensed ERA’s

This project commenced in early 2017. The project had been identified early in 2016 and
additional funding for the inspections was part of the 2016/17 budget process. This enabled the
employment of an experienced Environmental Health Officer on a casual basis to focus solely on
the project, without any impact on the day to day environmental work.

Inspections focused on industries that had been previously licensed as an ERA, and any new
industry of the same category. The industry types were mechanical workshops, car repairs, metal
yards, concrete batching, plastics/fibreglass manufacture, wood production, aquaculture and
service stations.

Given the preliminary findings from the initial inspections the program was extended to a small
number of premises outside the Noosaville area. A total of 132 businesses were inspected
throughout the entire Noosa Council area. The main areas of noncompliance were vehicle
repairers.
    Mechanical workshops made up 47% of the total industry noncompliance. (Service stations
      within this group made up 17% of the total industry noncompliance).
    Marine repair businesses 7% noncompliance.
    Wood industry 5% noncompliance.
    Concrete batching industry 4%.

Although concrete batching plant noncompliance was low as a percentage of the total, the
noncompliance involved all 3 plants operating in our area. Water sampling results also indicated
cement was the likely cause of some of the stormwater pollution (high pH readings indicated the
likely source to be concrete waste).

Summary data of industry compliance vs non compliance




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