2022-02-08 Planning and Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 8 FEBRUARY 2022


Gympie Regional Council extracts drinking water for Cooloola Cove / Tin Can Bay from the Teewah
Creek,(headwaters of the Noosa River) and sources drinking water from bores drawing sub
artesian water from the Cooloola Sand mass.
The attached table (Attachment 1) outlines the intent of each program, timing for the planning
process and possible implications from each planning process.
Water Quality Monitoring
In terms of long-term assessment of changes to or issues affecting catchments, water quality
monitoring is instrumental.
Council already participates or is aware of various water quality monitoring including
-     Healthy Land Water Report Card rating for Noosa River
-     Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) for Noosa River
-     Noosa and District Landcare for Kin Kin Creek
-     Mary River Catchment Co-ordinating Committee for Six Mile Creek
-     Unitywater monitoring for Burgess Creek
Council has already initiated a program to better collate water quality data though use of the Smart
Water System Database. Discussions have also been initiated with stakeholders to contemporise
water quality collection in including:
-     Use of automatic sensors
-     Collation of data on live dashboards using technology being implemented by the Peregian
      Digital Hub
-     Transparent publishing of data on accessible interfaces and establishment of alert thresholds
A further report is to be presented to Council in the near future about a proposed pathway for
improved water quality monitoring across our catchments.
In addition, Council has funded a research project through the University of Queensland to assess
ground water in the Eastern Beaches of Noosa Shire, findings which will be very useful in further
discussion of ground water management and climate-related impacts.
Ongoing Co-ordination and Management of Water Strategy in Council
Due to the significance and interrelationship of the various water planning processes underway, it
is proposed that Council form an internal Water Strategy working group made up of representatives
from Environment Services, Strategic Planning, Environmental Health and Infrastructure Services.
The intention of the group is to exchange information, prepare responses and co-ordinate
communication with the various agencies involved in water planning in the region.
It is forecast that a key outcome from further internal discussions will be the need for Noosa Council
to formulate specific water policy and positions. These will be further reported to Council for its
consideration. A key issue for consideration will be how Noosa Council advocates for desired
outcomes.
It is proposed that the Principal Environment Officer, River Strategy and Engagement be
responsible for co-ordination of the group.
In addition, it is proposed that an Environment Round Table, consistent with the Environment
Strategy be called with Natural Resource Management Groups in Noosa to share information and
prepare joint strategies and responses in response to the various strategies and water planning
processes underway.
It is understood that Environment Round Tables, when undertaken to focus on specific topics in
the past by Council have been a very successful engagement exercise, and the format will be
modelled on previous environment round table engagement exercises.


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