2017-09-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               18 SEPTEMBER 2017


Do you have any other comments?
This consultation process has highlighted knowledge gaps and the need for an overview of the
water quality objectives to more accurately reflect the needs of the receiving environment.
Articulation of the aspects of the environment that the guidelines are intending to protect in
Moderately Disturbed water are requested (i.e. to align with ANZECC terminology, are the
guidelines aiming to protect or enhance 50, 85 or 99% of species in the receiving waters.).
It is suggested that an overhaul of the water quality objectives is needed. It is requested that
criteria include commentary of how it protects the needs of the environment and is socially and
economically viable. One method to achieve this may be to establish e-Source modelling for all
catchments, apply economically viable best management practice to all existing land uses, then
calculate the 20th, 50th 80th %iles. Triggers for stress can then be identified with sufficient time to
correct the situation before the water quality causes toxicity or irreversible stress to the system.
Long term water quality data can then be used to calibrate the models. It is requested that the
water quality objectives detailed within legislation are within 1 standard deviation of the modelled
median. The method using standard deviation away from the median is sourced from the DSITI
Receiving Environment Monitoring Guidelines to trigger an investigation of the source of the
stress/ shock to the water quality before ecological processes are damaged.

Previous Council Consideration

Nil.

Finance & Risk

Supporting the proposed changes will mean that future investment is necessary to improve water
quality for 50% of the time in Lake Cooroibah, Weyba and Eastern Beaches catchments.

Not supporting the change will also mean that future investment is necessary to improve water
quality for more than 50% of the time in Lake Cooroibah, Weyba and Eastern Beaches
catchments.

Consultation

External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder

Dr Michael Newham of DSITI met with Noosa Council’s Environment Officer to personally explain
the dataset being used to inform the proposed changed to Noosa River Catchment waters.

The proposal was introduced to Noosa Council Environment Officer at the Healthy Land and
Water Monitoring and Evaluation Steering Committee on 19 July 2017.

Internal Consultation

The following Noosa Council Staff were consulted for input and opinions
    Waste and Environment Health Manager;
    Waste Coordinator,
    Principal Strategic Planner;
    Principal Environment Officer;
    Environment Officer,
    Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast),
    Technical Officer - Natural Areas.




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