INTEGRATED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM - BURGESS CREEK · Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                              11 JULY 2023



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