2016-07-12 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                             12 JULY 2016


14                       PLANNING STUDY ON EFFLUENT DISPOSAL
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                            Project Manager New Planning Scheme, Raul Weychardt
                                  Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                             ECM/ Subject/ Rural Planning

Attachments                       1.   On-Site Effluent Disposal in Noosa Shire 2016 (27 pages – supplied
                                       separately to this agenda – 2 hard copies available in the Councillors’ room)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Project Manager New Planning Scheme to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 12 July 2016 and endorse the study “On-Site Effluent
Disposal in Noosa Shire 2016” provided at Attachment 1, for the purpose of informing the new
Planning Scheme.


REPORT
This report presents to Council a planning study into on-site effluent disposal in Noosa Shire.
The planning study represents an update of an earlier study prepared in 1997 and it considers
the legislative framework, technical advances and ongoing challenges for effluent disposal in
Noosa. The purpose of the planning study is to inform the new planning scheme. It makes
recommendations on specific policy positions for Council in respect to environmental effects of
on-site wastewater, continued auditing and community engagement on secondary systems and a
precautionary approach towards future development in un-sewered localities.

The most significant issue in the planning study is the failure rates of secondary treatment
systems, not just in Noosa but across Queensland. The extent of the failure rate is concerning
with the Queensland Government publishing the failure rates being as high as 60-80%.

Council endorsed an audit program in October 2014. The extent of failures in Noosa so far has
been closer to 40%. Failure rates are primarily attributed to system problems and management
issues experienced by the home owner.

Another issue of importance is the absence of modelling capability for environmental effects of
discharges due to lack of field testing, not just in Noosa but in Australia generally.

1.                       Recommendations for the new planning scheme
The planning study includes two recommendations for the new planning scheme. The first
proposes a precautionary approach to intensification of land uses that rely on on-site wastewater
treatment. The second supports continuing the current approaches to potential subdivision in
rural and rural residential areas and in un-sewered townships.

Previous Council Consideration
Nil.

Finance & Risk
Nil.

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