2017-07-11 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 8 - Investigation into Stormwater Pollution from Noosa's Industrial Activities

3. Environmentally    Relevant                                                   Activities
   (ERAs) Inspection Program
3.1      Introduction
This project followed on from the initial stormwater quality investigation, and was initially proposed
given the ecological and recreational importance of Noosa’s waterways, and the potential impact
industry could have on these waterways.

Prior to the previous State Government’s green tape reduction exercise, local government had a
regulatory role involving ensuring certain categories of industries had appropriate measures in place
to prevent their activities causing environmental harm.

The majority of these industry types e.g. service stations, mechanical workshops and concrete
batching plants etc. no longer have any regulatory monitoring, albeit their legislative obligations to
prevent environmental harm or nuisance still exists. Our regulatory role ceased in early 2013, so it
was thought timely to check on how well industry was self-regulating.

The results from the stormwater quality investigation indicating an adverse impact on the Eenie
Creek waterway close to the stormwater outlets discharging from the Noosaville Industrial estate,
added to the impetus to carry out this inspection program.


3.2      Program
A list of all previous ERA licenced premises was provided, including any new businesses that fitted
into the ERA criteria. The list of premises for inspection was divided into the following geographical
locations:
 Noosaville Industrial Estate - 56 premises
 Noosa, Noosaville, Tewantin - 44 premises
 Fuel Stations (all areas except for Cooroy, Pomona) - 10 premises
 Cooroy (includes Fuel Stations) – 16 premises
 Pomona, Cooran (includes Fuel Stations) - 6 premises


3.3      Results
3.3.1    Noosaville Industrial Estate
Inspection summary
 56 premises inspected
 31 premises non-compliant-55%
 25 premises compliant-45%

Summary of issues
 1 Aqua Culture
  o Contain bio media onsite
  o Clean up loose bio media around yard
  o Cease to allow bio media to stormwater drain




Investigation into Stormwater Pollution from Noosa’s Industrial Activities                     Page 9