2022-02-08 Planning and Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   8 FEBRUARY 2022




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       8 FEBRUARY 2022

           The results of the current monitoring project to date are summarised here as key findings.

           4.1    Key Findings
           The key findings are:
              e   No Hincksia sordida has been identified in the Noosa River estuary system or on Main
                  Beach in recent times (since 2018)
              e   The dominant species observed was Hincksia mitchelliae, a close relative to Hincksia
                  sordida
              e   The highest growth rates of algae observed occurred early in the monitoring period in July
                  and August 2020 in Noosa Woods Bay (Points J, |, H, G, D) and in the Noosa Waters
                  Canal (Points L, M, N, O, P)
              e   8 Oct 2019 Hincksia mitchelliae and Ectocarpus siliculosus dominant species sampled from
                  Main Beach and Noosa Spit (ocean side).
              e   28 Oct 2019 Ectocarpus siliculosus dominant species sampled from Main Beach.
              e   11 Nov 2020 Ectocarpus siliculosus dominant species sampled from Main Beach.
              e   11 Nov 2020 samples of ‘black algae’ taken for identification at points C,E,F (in process of
                  degrading, sulphuros smell/black water) were characteristic of Ectocarples spp. Drifts of
                  algae from past blooms or at least past ‘luxuriant growth.
              e   No bloom has occurred over the current monitoring period (2021)
              e   Rafts of algae were observed in the Noosa Waters Canal system but these were mainly
                  comprised of planktonic diatoms, the green alga Cladophora spp. and Rhizoclonium spp.
              e   Nitrogen levels (Ammonia, Total N, Nitrates and Nitrites) exceeded Water Quality
                  Guidelines in March 2021 at NVVB001, NSC001, WECOO01

           4.2    Species Found
           Since the monitoring started in August 2018 July 2020 a total of 50 samples have been sent away
           for identification. Samples were collected so that Council staff could get a better understanding of
           what species were being observed growing in the river and presenting on Main Beach and to
           establish some baseline data on species composition at the monitoring points. Overall, the samples
           comprised a variety of phytoplankton and macoroalgae species including brown, red and green
           algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria. The most common species identified was the brown algae
           Hincksia mitcheilae a very close relative to Hincksia sordida, the species associated with problems
           in the past.

           Hincksia sordida has not been identified in the estuary in recent times in either previous incidental
           sampling or the current monitoring period.

           In Appendix 1, the table displays the list of species of phytoplankton and macroalgae found in the
           Noosa River Estuary and on Main Beach since 2018. The points displayed in Table 1 are points
           where filamentous algae and phytoplankton was found to be growing luxuriously. Also noted in Table
           1 are diatoms and cyanobacteria that have been found in the samples.

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