2023 LGAQ ANNUAL CONFERENCE MOTIONS · Report

ORDINARY MEETING                                                                         20 JULY 2023



REPORT
MOTION A - Cr Lorentson - Support of Noosa Council’s ALGA motion for a National Policy on
Ocean Sewerage Outfalls

"The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland recommending that a submission
made by Noosa Council to NGA at the ALGA Conference, 2023 is developed and agreed to by the
ALGA board for Federal Policy priority and implementation. The motion was carried unopposed by
357 Councils across Australia."

Background
In June 2023: Noosa Council moved a motion at the Australian Local Government Association
(ALGA) calling on the Australian Government to formulate a National Policy on Ocean Sewerage
Outfalls that aims at:
1. No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian
coastline, and
2. 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. Water scarcity, extreme weather events,
droughts, and population growth require efficient water management and sustainable sewerage and
stormwater management. It demands that we start valuing the worth of water and start using potable
water for better use. It is unacceptable that in 2023, that treated sewage, untreated sewage is still
being discharged into our oceans. A practice that commenced in Australia in the 1960s. Whilst it
might not be currently possible to do away with marine outfalls completely, we must set ambitious
targets, be forward thinking and do what we can to look at alternatives and new technologies to
lessen the environmental impact to the receiving environments ie aquatic and coastal
ecosystems. Our beaches and coastline are some of our most important public places and must be
a key priority for this country. Facts: 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*. A large proportion 64% of
Australia’s 176 coastal outfalls are currently contributing to poor water quality for Australia’s coastal
waterways and ocean environments because, wastewater is treated to only a lower level of quality,
referred to as a primary or secondary treatment.*
 *Clean Ocean Foundation, Outfall Database

MOTION B - Cr Lorentson - State Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls

"The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland to formulate a State Policy on Ocean
Sewerage Outfalls that aims at:
   1. No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Queensland
      coastline, and
   2. 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 treated wastewater generated within their localities and
      avoid the need to discharge in the ocean."
Background
In October 2022: Noosa Council moved a motion 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