2021-12-07 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda - Updated

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               7 DECEMBER 2021


9    REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES AND WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR
     NOOSA RIVER BASIN
Author           Environmental Services Manager Shaun Walsh
                 Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index            ECM/ Environmental Protection Policy / 62.01

Attachments      1.    Proposed Environmental Values Areas for Noosa River Basin
                 2.    Technical Evaluation of proposed WQOs by Council Staff


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES) has recently
engaged with Council to complete its review of the Environmental Protection Policy prescribed
Environmental Values (EVs) and Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) for the Noosa River Basin.
The EVs and WQOs are fundamental to the Queensland Government consideration of any impacts
on water quality arising from changes in land use and are also used as part of the basis for Healthy
Land Water (HLW) report card rating for the Noosa River.
A workshop between DES Officers and representatives of the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory
Committee (NRSAC) was undertaken on the 5th November to both gain an appreciation of the
program and seek stakeholder views.
Key comments prepared to date from internal technical review and discussions with NRSAC
members include:
Regarding EVOs:
    support for creation of a specific EV area for the Burgess Creek catchment, and support for
     a Secondary Recreation EV, but consideration is warranted for a Primary Recreation EV at
     the mouth of Burgess Creek due to regular human interaction on the beachfront
    opportunity to refine the Northern Noosa EV to also include the natural areas of the Noosa
     North Shore to reflect its predominant naturalness
    opportunity to refine the Weyba EV to also include the industrial area west of Eumundi Road,
     to ensure consistent treatment of the Noosaville industrial area
Regarding WQOs:
    support for use of local Noosa River data gathered in recent decades as the basis for Water
     Quality Objectives
    support for creation of low flow and high flow WQO to better reflect river conditions
    Some concerns for some new WQO in some specific circumstances that may been seen to
     lessen river standards
DES have advised that they are looking to finalise the revised EVOs and WQOs in the coming
period, with a view to implementing them from July 2022, particularly with regard to the HLW Report
Card.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Acting Manager Environment Services to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 7 December and note the information concerning the
review by the Department of Environment and Science on the Environmental Values and Water
Quality Objectives for the Noosa River Basin.



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