INTEGRATED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM - BURGESS CREEK · Report

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                             11 JULY 2023


drainage and run-off from sporting fields.




Figure 1. Potential sources of impact on the Burgess Creek Catchment (Unitywater, 2023)

In September 2022 the internal working group began scoping the development of a Burgess Creek
Integrated Catchment Management Plan and developed a project initiation document (PID) to better
understand the broader catchment. The PID was submitted as part of the 23/24 budget planning
process. The PID outlines the scope for developing and Integrated Catchment Management Plan for
the Burgess Creek Catchment.

An Integrated Catchment Management Plan would link three main data components (strategic
stormwater management plan, water quality sampling, and a review of environmental factors):

   •   The stormwater discharge component will review catchment land use, infrastructure,
       discharges, stream flow management, hydrogeology and water quantity.
   •   The water quality sampling component will assess the impact of point and diffuse sources of
       contaminants across the catchment.
   •   The review of environmental factors will evaluate the impact of the surrounding urban
       development on the natural environment and the potential effect on public health.

Unitywater data request and subsequent meetings
An environmental authority (EA) is needed by a business to undertake an 'environmentally relevant
activity’ (ERA) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. An ERA is an industrial, resource or
intensive agricultural activity with the potential to release contaminants into the environment.
Unitywater’s Burgess Creek STP is subject to an EA under the Act, regulated by the Department of
Environment and Science (DES).

ERAs must comply with a set of conditions specific to their site which are set out in their EA to be
able to operate and release treated wastewater.

As part of their EA, Unitywater has a Receiving Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP). The
purpose of the REMP is to monitor the effects of the release of contaminants (treated wastewater)
on the receiving water environment i.e. Burgess Creek.

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The REMP for the Noosa STP must include but is not limited to:

   1. A description of the potentially affected environment including key communities and ambient
      water quality.
   2. A description of water quality objectives and biological objectives to be achieved.
   3. A description of selected physio-chemical and biological indicators and reasons for their
      inclusion.
   4. The locations of monitoring stations including monitoring transects away from the outfall of
      the approved release as well as any control locations.
   5. The proposed sampling depths.
   6. The water quality characteristics of receiving waters to be determined.
   7. The frequency of sampling and analysis.
   8. Any historical data sets to be relied upon.
   9. A description of the statistical basis on which conclusions are drawn.

The REMP includes water quality monitoring at seven sample sites in the Burgess Creek Catchment
on a monthly schedule for laboratory analysis including e.coli, enterococci, total suspended solids,
total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrate + nitrite (NOx), phosphate as p, ammonia, and chlorophyll-
a. In situ water quality monitoring using a water quality meter is also carried out for turbidity, pH,
dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity.

Unitywater is compliant with all required water quality characteristic limits set by DES for releasing
treated wastewater including those for faecal coliforms, intestinal enterococci, total nitrogen, total
phosphorus and turbidity, which are tested weekly (except for turbidity which is continuously
monitored).

In October 2022 Unitywater established an interagency group to meet monthly on water quality and
catchment management matters. A request was sent via Council’s CEO to access Unitywater’s
REMP data. Unitywater agreed to the request providing a Confidentiality Agreement was established
in a meeting held 9 December 2022.

The Confidentiality Deed was created by Unitywater for a period of five years from January 2023-
2027 for the purposes of sharing information on Burgess Creek’s water quality and cooperating on
environmental protection matters, and was signed by both parties in January 2023.

Under the Deed, Unitywater presented data to Noosa Council officers in the interagency working
group on 8 February 2023, and access to the full suite of data was subsequently provided to the
Environment Officer – Rivers & Coast who was designated the assigned data controller for Noosa
Council. Data is stored in Unitywater’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

The data controller is responsible for:

   •   Controlling the data at Noosa Council and reinforcing the Confidentiality Deed, ensuring
       everyone has read and understood the Deed before accessing data.
   •   Holding a register of those who have requested access and ensuring the Deed has been
       read and understood.

Council and Unitywater have continued to hold regular meetings to discuss matters relevant to both
parties. Additionally, Unitywater took Council staff on a tour of the Noosa STP in May 2023 to provide
an understanding of the plant’s treatment processes.

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Council received Unitywater's most recent approved REMP Report in June 2023 (attached to this
report).

In June 2023, Unitywater presented to Council an overview of Unitywater's REMP Report for the
Noosa STP, water quality monitor results, assets and operations, and legislative obligations.

Unitywater comments regarding Notice of Motions
Unitywater respects the want for an independent review of the water quality data and have requested
to work with Council to develop a scope of work, select the consultancy responsible for the review
and be part of the briefing process. Questions raised as part of the motion, including the
Environmental Impact Statement requirements, are addressed as part of the Water Matters
consultation responses (see below).

Noosa Council water quality monitoring program
In October 2022, Council’s Rivers & Coast branch began a limited monthly water quality monitoring
program in the Burgess Creek Catchment. This includes sampling at four locations (noting the
upstream location is generally dry) in the Catchment, including Unitywater’s outflow (B3), a
stormwater drain underneath David Low Way Bridge (B1), downstream from the outflow on the
western branch of Burgess Creek (B6) and an upstream location on Eenie Creek Road (B8). The
sampling locations replicate four of Unitywater’s sampling locations under its REMP.

The sampling suite also replicates that of Unitywater’s REMP and includes laboratory analysis for
e.coli, enterococci, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrate + nitrite,
phosphate, ammonia and chlorophyll-a. In situ water quality monitoring using a water quality meter
is undertaken for temperature, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and electrical
conductivity.

The sampling program has limited sites and has been operating for a limited time, therefore it is
difficult to draw conclusions from the data. However, results show that e.coli and enterococci at
Unitywater’s outflow are generally lower than the sites further downstream, which is consistent with
Unitywater's REMP data. Sampling results from sampling site B6 downstream from the Unitywater
outflow on the western branch reported the highest concentrations of enterococci and e.coli of all
sampling sites.

These results indicate that other sources of contaminants could be impacting the catchment, as
outlined above in figure 1. The water quality component of an Integrated Water Catchment
Management Plan would investigate various potential contaminant sources in the catchment to
determine their impact on water quality.

Council’s Environmental Health branch also conducts a recreation use monitoring program which
involves fortnightly sampling from October through to April, and monthly from May to September,
using guidelines set by Healthy Waterways and the Human Health Scientific Expert Panel in 2014.
As part of this program, samples are taken from the point where Burgess Creek flows into the ocean
at Sunrise Beach and analysed for enterococci.

While periodic water quality sampling has generally shown bacterial levels to be within the guidelines
for secondary recreational water use, as described by the National Health and Medical Research
Council, results can be high from time to time, especially after rainfall. Swimming in Burgess Creek
with head below water and drinking water from the creek is therefore not recommended due to the
location of the waste water treatment plant built on night soil and refuse dumps, which has the
propensity to elevate bacterial levels at Burgess Creek, particularly after high rainfall events.

Review of Water Quality Objectives
Council has been in communication with DES regarding the review and update of the Noosa River
Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives (WQOs), as defined under the Environmental

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Protection (Wetland & Biodiversity) Policy 2019. DES reviews the WQOs approximately every 10
years, with the most recent draft objectives made public in June 2022.

The updated objectives were developed in consultation with and using historical data from NRM
groups, Unitywater and other relevant stakeholders. Key changes include the introduction of high
and low flow targets and separate objectives for Burgess Creek. Under the previous guidelines,
Burgess Creek did not have its own WQOs, instead Wallum/tannin stained streams guidelines were
used. Under Unitywater's EA, they must meet set release limits for parameters such as total nitrogen
and total phosphorus, however, they are not obligated under this legislation to meet the water quality
objectives for the Burgess Creek Catchment. The changes have resulted in a substantial increase
in the guidelines used for Burgess Creek for oxidised nitrogen, and a small increase in total nitrogen
concentrations under high flow conditions. Under these objectives compliance is low. Council has
requested that Unitywater engage with DES to determine whether the discrepancy between the EA
limits and the WQOs is appropriate.

Monitoring reports prepared by Noosa’s NRM groups and citizen scientists for the Noosa Shire,
Noosa River, Kin Kin Creek and coastal creeks (Castaways, Marcus and Peregian creeks) have
provided sub catchment report card ratings by comparing them with the WQOs. Several locations in
these reports received an 'F', resulting from exceedances of the WQOs for both dissolved oxygen
and turbidity. At the most recent water quality workshop as part of the integrated water quality
monitoring program held 15 March 2023, participants discussed concerns that the some of the
WQOs were not relevant to certain sites.

Council has provided the citizen scientist reports to DES for analysis and met to discuss the updated
objectives and development of local WQOs. Noosa & District Landcare raised issues with the
appropriateness of the WQOs for three coastal ephemeral creeks (Castaways, Marcus and Peregian
creeks) for electrical conductivity, and for dissolved oxygen for several locations in Kin Kin and
Wahpunga creeks. DES is now considering minor proposed legislative amendments to the WQOs
for these 3 coastal creeks, expected late in 2023.

University of Sunshine Coast Research Project - Coastal Monitoring
One of the key findings of Council’s Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan was that coastal monitoring
represented a critical component of any adaptive management program. Council is undertaking
engineering design incorporating natural stabilisation to manage erosion occurring on the Eastern
Beaches, including development of priority ratings for coastal creeks to facilitate active monitoring
and maintenance. Burgess Creek’s mouth has been identified by community members as an erosion
hotspot.

Council is collaborating with UniSC on a one-year research project to investigate Burgess Creek’s
channel migration by monitoring water quality, 2D and 3D morphological changes in the creek and
development of an empirical model to predict triggers forcing changes in the creek’s water quality
and morphology. The project is also monitoring water flow and depth.

The creek’s planform change, channel depth and beach/dune volumetric changes will be surveyed
using drone photogrammetry and Real-time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
profiles on a ~monthly and/or event-driven basis (e.g. before/after significant swell or rainfall events).
Nearshore hydrodynamics (waves and currents) will be modelled using a calibrated Simulating
Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model. An XBeach model will be used to model beach/dune volumetric
changes and tested using observed data.

The creek’s water surface level is being monitored using a pressure sensor at the mouth (west side
of the bridge) based on significant events (e.g. during significant swell >3m significant wave height
and/or >10mm rainfall events). The creek’s flow velocity is being continuously monitored (every 30
seconds) using a water flow meter at a fixed site (west side of bridge). Flow data is uploaded daily
and will be accessible to Noosa Council via UniSC’s online data account. The channel’s morphology
will be surveyed to estimate the creek’s discharge based on monitored flow.

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Water quality samples are being collected monthly by Council’s Rivers & Coast branch at the same
site west of the bridge and three other sites including the outflow site (Wallum Lane – Rotary Way,
Noosa STP).

A stage/discharge relationship or rating curve will be developed for the creek, and data will be
collated and analysed to develop an empirical model that will explain the main triggers and predict
thresholds that force the creek’s morphological and water quality changes.

The decision support tool based on the empirical model developed from this project will benefit the
management of Burgess Creek by determining the thresholds best suited for actions. For example,
the tool could be used to determine when is best/necessary to open the creek’s mouth to mitigate
dune erosion or when the creek’s water quality could be expected to be a health hazard.

Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program
Council’s Rivers & Coast branch has been investigating the feasibility of developing a citizen science
water quality monitoring program designed to monitor Burgess Creek, Cooroy/Six Mile Creek
catchments and the impact of wastewater discharge and the Seqwater water treatment plant.

Noosa Council, Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC), Noosa Integrated
Catchment Association (NICA), Noosa & District Landcare (Landcare), Healthy Land & Water
(HL&W), The Nature Conservancy and invited State Government representatives have been
meeting quarterly since August 2022 to discuss the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program
and its priorities. A representative from Unitywater also attended the most recent meeting, where
Council’s resolution relating to a citizen science water quality STP monitoring program was
presented to the group and was discussed at length.

Cooroy STP/Seqwater Treatment Plants
Landcare has previously monitored sites in Cooroy/Six Mile Creek locations as part of its historical
Waterwatch program, however Noosa Council ceased funding for this several years ago and
eventually the program was unable to continue. MRCCC and Unitywater also conduct water quality
monitoring in Six Mile Creek, both near the Unitywater Cooroy STP and the Seqwater treatment
plant.

Concerns were raised as to whether the development of an additional citizen science monitoring
program would result in duplication of existing programs, with participants wanting to know what the
purpose of a program focusing solely on STP monitoring is and what it would achieve. Concerns
were also raised that even though there are many other water quality issues in both the Noosa and
Mary River catchments that have not been addressed, one of the main focuses is on STPs,
particularly at Burgess Creek, and their effect on water quality, which already receive a high level of
resourcing in terms of monitoring and are governed by DES.

The monitoring reports prepared by the NRM groups and citizen scientists indicate that there are
many other locations and sources of pollutants which require investigation and are equally, if not,
more important than STP monitoring.

Workshop participants agreed that rather than the development of another citizen science monitoring
program centred specifically around STP monitoring, a more appropriate action would be to expand
the scope of the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program by collating all the monitoring data
from stakeholders in these areas to gain a better understanding of available data and gaps.

MRCCC prepared an updated Situation Analysis in June 2023 and the group will soon assess and
determine the cost and resources required for an expanded number of sites.

Water Matters
Council officers as members of the Project Steering Group have been participating in

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Unitywater’s Water Matters planning process. Water Matters is Unitywater’s total water cycle
management plan for Noosa and the Sunshine Coast that commenced in 2020.

Public consultation on the plan began in late March 2023, with deliberative community engagement
up until the end of May, and release of a final plan expected in late 2023. Council officers attended
and presented at the two Burgess Creek Water Matters Community Forums to provide input on both
the overarching Water Matters Plan and more specific feedback on issues related to the Noosa Shire
in the Burgess Creek Catchment.

The plan is considering community, environment and economic perspectives and presents several
possible options for the catchment areas. From these, preferred water management options have
been recommended.

For Burgess Creek, expanded fit-for-purpose recycled water use, riparian regeneration and
enhancing management of stormwater run-off quality have been proposed, but stakeholders and the
community are also being asked to provide feedback on the importance of other options such as
improved erosion and sediment control, education and improving water literacy, existing fit-for-
purpose recycled water, and improving water and resource recovery at all wastewater treatment
plants.

Responses to stakeholder and community questions from the consultative process, including those
raised by elected representatives, and community updates are available on Unitywater’s Community
Hub at https://communityhub.unitywater.com/water-matters.

As a member of the Project Steering Group, Council has provided a letter of feedback on the plan
and requested detail on the roles and responsibilities of Unitywater, Council and other stakeholders
for each recommended management option.
Link to Corporate Plan

Theme No 1. - Environment

Focus areas include the natural environment, built environment, waterways and coasts and
conservation and heritage.

The relevant objectives from the Corporate Plan include the following:

1.1. - Maintain and improve water quality and the health of waterways, wetlands and catchments.

1.3 - Fund and deliver Coastal Foreshore and Coastal Hazard Management Plans to protect and
enhance coastal and foreshore areas.

1.6 - Partner with community to improve the health and water quality management of Noosa and
Mary Rivers and Eastern Beaches through whole of catchment management to protect
environmental values while enabling sustainable public access, recreation, and commercial use.


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting, 16 June 2023, Page 3 - Notified Motion - Cr Amelia Lorenston
That Council request the Chief Executive Officer to provide a report to a future meeting outlining:
   A. Actions to be undertaken by Council to manage the Burgess Creek Mouth, including
      erosion management;
   B. Council’s current and future plans in relation to the management of outflows and water
      quality from the Unity Water Wastewater Treatment Plant discharging into Burgess Creek;

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   C. Council’s obligations as a trustee, including, but not limited to:
   1. Council’s responsibilities and obligations for stormwater pipes, culverts and other
      infrastructure which stormwater and treated wastewater are channelled;
   2. Council’s duties in respect of downstream erosion caused to dunes and beaches as a result
      of storm water discharge and wastewater outflows from the Unity Water Wastewater
      Treatment Plant; and
D. Possible funding options and opportunities from Unitywater, State and Federal governments for
long-term integrated catchment and coastal management and infrastructure solutions.

Ordinary Meeting Minutes 15 September 2022, Item 8, Page 23, Burgess Creek Coastal
Erosion and Water Quality
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer – River Strategy & Engagement to
the General Committee Meeting dated 12 September 2022 and
   A. Consider a detailed project proposal for a Noosa Eastern Beaches Creeks High Risk
      Erosion Prioritisation Project for Council at its Budget Review 2 deliberations;
   B. Note an internal investigation of erosion impacts from foot traffic at the mouth of Burgess
      Creek and adjacent dunes and engagement with the Burgess Creek Bushcare Group and
      other interested stakeholders to develop nature-based restoration and erosion control
      measures; and
   C. Request the CEO (or delegate) liaise with Unitywater to provide Unitywater’s Receiving
      Environment Monitoring Program (REMP) and all routine monitoring reports including water
      quality and quantity discharges for Burgess Creek to Council Environment staff to support
      Council’s Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program for Noosa Shire.

Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 17 November 2022 Item 2, Page 19, Integrated Water Quality
Monitoring Program
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; and
   1. Investigate the feasibility of developing a citizen science water quality monitoring program
      designed to measure and manage the environmental health of the Burgess Creek and
      Cooroy/ Six Mile Creek catchments, as well as the impact of Unitywater wastewater
      discharge and outflow and SEQwater water treatment plant discharge;
   2. Explore funding opportunities for the monitoring program such as through the Unitywater
      Community Partnerships Program.


Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 15 December 2022, Page 3, Notified Motion by Amelia Lorentson
That Council authorise the CEO to bring forward to Council a report on Water Quality Issues
affecting Burgess Creek Catchment detailing at a minimum:
   A. Review of historical water quality data including water discharge volumes;
   B. A review of the permit and equivalent person capacity of the plant;
   C. Environmental impact of Wastewater Treatment Plant outflows into the Burgess Creek
      catchment against the historical Environmental Impact Statement; and
   D. Any other matters deemed appropriate for reporting.
And if Councillors believe after review of information that another source of truth is required then
an independent review of Burgess Creek wastewater treatment flow be done by a suitable
engineering and environmental firm

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Finance
The estimated cost of implementing a Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan
is expected to be around $400,000. Council has commenced exploring cost sharing
opportunities with Unitywater and any other initiatives arising from the Water Matters
consultation process. Staff will also continue to seek other external grant funds.

The 2024/25 Council Budget outlook indicates $266,800 has been allocated to Burgess Creek
for surveys to inform a Catchment Action Plan. Staff resources to project manage will be required
if the project commences in 2024/25 or earlier.

The research collaboration with UniSC will cost an estimated $15,000, with significant in-kind
support provided by UniSC.

Consideration must also be given to the cost and resources needed for the development of a
citizen science water quality monitoring program, if and when this occurs.

Risk & Opportunities
There is an opportunity for Council to continue working with Unitywater to improve community
understanding of the catchment condition.

The partnership aligns with Noosa Council’s Waterways, Wetlands and Coasts strategies within
the Environment Strategy 2019:
   •   Maintain and improve the health of waterways, wetlands & catchments.
   •   Protect and enhance coastal environments and vegetated buffers to coastal foreshores.
   •   Waterways and coasts are managed to protect environmental values while enabling
       sustainable public access, recreation and commercial use.

The formation of a working group between Council and Unitywater has provided a valuable
opportunity for the organisations to develop a successful working relationship and quality
outcomes for the Burgess Creek environment and community.

Promotion of citizen science involvement in the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program
will build understanding of water quality issues across Noosa Shire and increase community
trust in Council.

Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
As outlined above, Noosa Council has been liaising with Unitywater regarding Burgess Creek
and the Water Matters Project Steering Group, Noosa’s NRM groups, DES, Healthy Land &
Water, The Nature Conservancy and UniSC.


Internal Consultation
Internal consultation is ongoing between the Environment & Sustainable Development and
Infrastructure divisions.

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Departments/Sections Consulted:

 x   Mayor                         Community Services                          Corporate Services

 x   Councillors                   Director                                    Director

                                   Community Development                       Financial Services

 x   Chief Executive Officer       Community Facilities                        Fleet

     Executive Support             Libraries & Galleries                       ICT

                                   Local Laws                                  Procurement

                               x   Waste & Environmental Health                Property

                                                                               Revenue Services



     Executive Services            Environment & Sustainable Development       Infrastructure Services

     Director                  x   Director                                x   Director

     Community Engagement          Building & Plumbing Services                Asset Management

     Customer Service              Development Assessment                      Buildings and Facilities

     Governance                    Economic Development                        Civil Operations

     People and Culture        x   Environmental Services                      Disaster Management

                               x   Strategic Land Use Planning             x   Infrastructure Planning,
                                                                               Design and Delivery