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2023 LGAQ ANNUAL CONFERENCE MOTIONS · Attachment 1 - MOTION A - Cr Lorentson - Support of Noosa Council’s ALGA motion for a National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls
ATTACHMENT 1 - MOTION A
2023 LGAQ Annual Conference – Motions template
Who is the key contact for this motion? Cr Amelia Lorentson
(required)
Submitting council (required) Noosa Council
Supporting organisation (if applicable) n/a
Council resolution # (required) 20 July 2023
Date of council resolution 20/07/2023
(required)
Does this motion have state-wide relevance? (This is a required field)
YES
Title of motion (required) Support of Noosa Council’s ALGA motion for a
National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls
Motion The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of
(required) Queensland recommending that a submission made
by Noosa Council to NGA at the ALGA Conference,
2023 is developed and agreed to by the ALGA board
for Federal Policy priority and implementation. The
motion was carried unopposed by 357 Councils
across Australia.
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What is the desired outcome sought? Advocacy and support by LGAQ of an ALGA Motion
(required) 200 word limit calling on the Australian Government to formulate a
National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls, that
was carried unopposed at the National Gallery of
Australia in June 2023. Desired outcomes:
• Stop the use of the ocean as a rubbish dump
• Reduce the impact of liquid waste on the
environment and communities
• Transition towards a circular economy for liquid
waste
• Build economic opportunity
• Set Wastewater diversion targets from all
waterways, including freshwater, oceans and
rivers
• Set Wastewater reuse and recycle targets with
economic incentives to drive reform
• Pollution caps and
• Investment in wastewater reuse and
infrastructure.
The disposal of liquid waste into our waterways,
including freshwater, oceans and rivers creates
social and environmental problems for Queensland
and the country.
Wastewater reuse solutions and technologies exist.
And some Councils around Australia including WA,
SA and Qld are leading the way. Our environment,
community and country demand a better way of
managing waste that does not destroy what we love,
our beaches and coastline.
Background In June 2023: Noosa Council moved a motion at the
(required) 350 word limit Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)
calling on the Australian Government to formulate a
National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that
aims at:
1. No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls
to be built/developed along the Australian
coastline, and
2. Dedicated funding to be provided to support
local regional governments and wastewater
providers with existing ocean and estuarine
outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies
and make every effort to recycle 100% of all
treated wastewater generated within their
localities and avoid the need to discharge in
the ocean.
It was carried unopposed by 357 Councils in
Australia.
Water scarcity, extreme weather events, droughts,
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and population growth require efficient water
management and sustainable sewerage and
stormwater management. It demands that we start
valuing the worth of water and start using potable
water for better use.
It is unacceptable that in 2023, that treated sewage,
untreated sewage is still being discharged into our
oceans. A practice that commenced in Australia in
the 1960s.
Whilst it might not be currently possible to do away
with marine outfalls completely, we must set
ambitious targets, be forward thinking and do what
we can to look at alternatives and new technologies
to lessen the environmental impact to the receiving
environments i.e. aquatic and coastal ecosystems.
Our beaches and coastline are some of our most
important public places and must be a key priority for
this country.
Facts:
Data gathered in 2016 from 165 of the 175 ocean
and estuarine outfalls provide the first national
snapshot of wastewater discharges to Australia's
coastal environment.
The total volume of wastewater discharged to
Australia's oceans in 2016 was 1350 gigalitres:
equivalent to 2.7 Sydney harbours.
The potential value of this water would have been
more than more than $1 billion, had as little as 20%
been recycled*
A large proportion 64% of Australia’s 176 coastal
outfalls are currently contributing to poor water
quality for Australia’s coastal waterways and ocean
environments because, wastewater is treated to only
a lower level of quality, referred to as a primary or
secondary treatment. *
*Clean Ocean Foundation, Outfall Database
Case study/ Example n/a
(optional) 350 word limit
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