Reference Document - OPW23 0189

                                                                                            ADG Consulting Pty Ltd


4        Water quality objectives
4.1      Receiving environment
         It is proposed to discharge extracted groundwater directly into the Noosa River canal adjacent to site.

         Based on the stormwater mapping available via the Noosa Council Enterprise Mapping System
         (Intramaps) there is a stormwater gully pit located south of 28 Mossman Court. This stormwater pit
         terminates within the Noosa River (<40 m) directly north of the gully pit. The exact location of the
         receiving waters/environment will be confirmed on commencement of dewatering; however, it is
         considered most appropriate that the site will discharge directly north to the adjacent Noosa River canal.

         The receiving environment in this location identifies as a moderately disturbed, middle estuary
         environment. The following section establishes water quality objectives (WQOs) to ensure that the
         environmental values of the receiving waters are protected and maintained.
4.2      Development of water quality objectives
         WQOs have been developed to support and protect the designated environmental values (EVs) for the
         receiving environment. The WQOs are based on a moderately disturbed level of protection for enclosed
         coastal/lower estuaries. The WQOs have been developed with reference to the following guideline
         documents:
              Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2018. (ANZG 2018) The
               selected trigger values apply to moderately disturbed systems to provide a 95% level of species
               protection for marine waters.
              Environmental Protection (Water & Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019. Queensland Government.
              Noosa River environmental values and water quality objectives. 2022. DES.
              Queensland Water Quality Guidelines, Version 3, September 2009. 2013. DEHP.
         The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality by the Australian and
         New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council
         of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000), has undergone review, with the publication of
         the 2018 version. The revised Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality
         2018 is a joint initiative between the Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian state and
         territory governments (ANZG, 2018) and supersedes the ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000 publication. Where
         ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) is referenced, the relevant sections are still relevant and consistent with the
         updated ANZG 2018 publication, as referenced in the ANZG 2018 publication.

         The Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 (DEHP, 2013) was made pursuant to the provisions of the
         Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1999, now the Environmental Protection (Water & Wetland
         Biodiversity) Policy 2019 (the EPP(Water)), which is a subordinate legislation under the Environmental
         Protection Act 1994 and was developed as the State response to the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000)
         Guidelines. The EPP(Water) provides a framework for:
              Identifying environmental values for Queensland waters, and deciding the water quality objectives
               to protect or enhance those environmental values.
              Including the identified environmental values and water quality objectives under Schedule 1 of the
               EPP (Water).
         WQOs are long term goals for surface water quality management. They are indicators established for
         receiving waters to support and protect the designated Environmental Values (EVs) for those waters. DES
         (2022) describes that for slightly to moderately disturbed waters, the guideline values should be
         compared with the median of values at a test site, whilst ANZG (2018) stresses that the aquatic ecosystem
         guideline values are triggers to further action, are inherently conservative, and that the response to non‐
         compliance should match the magnitude and impacts (if any) of the exceedance.




    ADG1580.23 Dewatering Management Plan_Rev0_28.09.23                                                       Page 6