2022-11-08 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               8 NOVEMBER 2022


6    INTEGRATED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM

Author           Environment Officer, Rivers and Coast, Sophie Blond
                 Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index            ECM/ Water Quality/ Waterways/ 62.10

Attachments      1.    Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Workshop Meeting Minutes
                       24.08.2022


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report summarises Council’s Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program which is being
developed to enhance the data management capabilities and management responses for water
quality related matters across both the Noosa River and Mary River catchments.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer – Rivers & Coast to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 8 November 2022 on the Integrated Water Quality
Monitoring Program.

REPORT
Over the past 20 years, water quality monitoring in the Noosa and Mary River catchments has
been undertaken through Waterwatch programs managed by Natural Resource Management
groups, including Noosa & District Landcare, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association, and the
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee. A significant body of monitoring data has been
collected through these programs and provided to Council. However, the data has not previously
been collated into a single database, nor used in a clearly defined way to inform management
actions.
The purpose of the integrated water quality monitoring program is to develop a framework for
Council, NRM groups and other agencies to better coordinate and manage water quality data. This
includes database management of historical and future monitoring data; use of this data to develop
sub-catchment report cards for the Noosa River; point source and event-based monitoring;
deployment of trial remote sensing equipment; and the development of a public facing dashboard.
The ongoing collection, management and use of water quality data to determine priority actions
from the integrated water quality monitoring program will support the Environment Strategy’s target
of achieving an A rating (or equivalent) for the environmental health of the Noosa River and Mary
River sub-catchments by 2030. This will be of particular importance given climate projections
indicate negative impacts on water quality including severe erosion and pollutant mobilisation
leading to further pressures on the Noosa River system.
Healthy Land & Water is soon to release the Noosa River’s 2022 Report Card. The Noosa River
catchment has consistently achieved A- ratings for water quality based on environmental condition
and social and economic benefit. However, the Mary River catchment has not been included as
part of the Healthy Land & Water’s environmental health monitoring program. The integrated water
quality monitoring program will assist with gaining a further nuanced understanding of water quality
in the Mary River Catchment.
Components of the program:
1.   Database management and use of historical data
Historically, several agencies have been responsible for the management of water quality
monitoring data from the Noosa and Mary River catchments. The integrated monitoring program

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