2022-11-08 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   8 NOVEMBER 2022




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       8 NOVEMBER 2022

         e   Data is public though the CISRO 1622 platform and is used to validate source catchment models.
             It informs decision making for regional stakeholders such as Canegrowers Queensland and the
             Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee.

         e   DES undertakes compliance activities and install probes to investigate the sources of water
             quality changes.

      Discussion:

         e There is value working in a more efficient system that alerts stakeholders about exceedances of
             pesticides in a system.
         e   There is a time distinction between collecting water samples for laboratory analysis and collection
             of in situ real time probe data.
         e   Probes such as EXO2 and OPUS need to be calibrated regularly. Probe installation costs
             approximately $20,000.
         e   ADES investigation demonstrated a rise in turbidity levels in Wahpunga Creek in Kin Kin.
         e Workshop attendees were advised property owners can have access to the data collected by
             DES. Data has also been given to Noosa Council and will be chased up by Amy Kimber.
      6.  Keeping in Kin Kin (KIIKK) Project —- Noosa & District Landcare
      Noosa & District Landcare Project Officer Jamie Knight provided an overview of the KIIKK Project.
         e   Early sediment analysis revealed high levels of sediment loads entering Lake Cootharaba.
         e   Studies of water quality indicated increased nitrogen and total suspended solids concentrations
             compared with other areas of the catchment. LIDAR studies indicated topsoil loss in the Kin Kin
            region and identified areas prone to erosion.
         e   The KIIKK program includes water quality monitoring in the Kin Kin catchment with 10 data
             collection points distributed down, mid and upstream.
      Project Objectives:
         e   Reduce sedimentation entering Lake Cootharaba, by restoring the land, improving sustainable
             agricultural productivity, and improving waterway health and water quality in the Noosa River
             Catchment.

         e = Involve local community and landowners to decrease soil erosion in the Kin Kin area.
      Discussion:

         *   Demonstration of sites encourages new applicants to be part of the project.
         e Long-term investment of 10 to 20 years is required to resolve the erosion soil loss problem in Kin
             Kin.

         ¢   Landholder participation is fundamental for the positive outcomes of the project.

      7. Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) Waterwatch Program
      NICA Waterwatch Program Coordinator Bruce McConkey provided an overview of NICA’s Noosa River
      water quality and turbidity monitoring.
      NICA has been involved with water quality monitoring since 2006. Since 2015 to present NICA has
      collected, recorded and presented water measurements from 30 sites across the Noosa River and creeks
      using 2 Horiba water quality probe.
      Lake Cootharaba sediment study:
     Minutes — Water Quality Workshop 24/08/22                                               Page 5

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