2019-06-11 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Environment Strategy

     The upper Mary River catchment includes Melaleuca              The Noosa Planning Scheme is a key mechanism to avoid
     swamp, grass, sedge and herb swamp, lakes and artificial       and mitigate impacts to wetland areas. Development
     wetlands. These important wetlands act as a filter for water   is required to control sediment and runoff, avoid acid
     that ultimately flows into the Great Sandy Marine Park at      sulfate soil exposure, and provide separation buffers to
     the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.                    wetlands to help minimise impacts. Stormwater controls
                                                                    and constructed bio-basins are required to be built and
     The Noosa River system is listed on the Directory of           properly maintained to capture and filter runoff and allow
     Important Wetlands in Australia (DIWA). The Noosa River        continued groundwater recharge.
     wetlands consist of mangroves, saltmarshes, melaleuca
     swamps, wet heath, grass sedge and herb swamp, sand            The Noosa Planning Scheme, Noosa River Plan and the
     window lakes as well as artificial wetlands such as dams       Mary River Catchment management plans will continue to
     and irrigation channels.                                       guide priority actions to maintain the environmental health
                                                                    of Noosa’s wetland and groundwater systems.
     Many of these wetlands are groundwater dependent and
     require permanent or intermittent groundwater reserves
     to maintain healthy ecosystems. Coastal creeks are
     also groundwater dependant and provide habitat for
     species such as the endangered Oxleyan Pigmy Perch
     (Nannoperca oxleyana). Projected changes to precipitation
     patterns, and saline intrusion into coastal aquifers as
     a result of climate change and sea-level rise may have
     adverse impacts on these systems.

     Wetlands and coastal creeks are at risk from development
     and vegetation clearing. Developments can also reduce
     groundwater recharge through increased hardstand areas
     and accelerated overland flows. Acid sulfate soils disturbed
     through earthworks, drainage and development can cause
     ‘fish kills’ and damage infrastructure because of elevated
     acidity in the soils and runoff.

     Wetlands often have unique aquatic and ecotonal fauna
     and flora assemblages, and can be impacted by invasive
     plant and animal species. Introduced fish may prey on
     native fish species or outcompete them for food, while
     water weeds can smother wetlands and reduce ecosystem
     health for native aquatic species.

     Human activities can also impact on coastal creeks and
     associated wetlands. For example the environment and
     water quality of Burgess Creek has been altered as a
     consequence of treated sewerage discharge into the
     waterway.




24