Meeting papers

This may indicate that other influences, such as decommissioned landfills and rapid infiltration
basins, night soil disposal areas, residential run-off, and stormwater, may be making a significant
contribution to nutrient loads in the creek. This is being investigated and further instream and
groundwater monitoring is being conducted,

There is community concern about the creek mouths causing erosion to the frontal dunes. Other
community members are concerned about stormwater, rubbish and possibly polluted water running
across beaches, particularly in high beach areas with pedestrian traffic areas. In some places
mobile creek mouths affect beach accesses and access onto, and along, the beach.


Burgess Creek
Burgess Creek and Burgess Creek Bushland Reserve is an example of a receivingreceives treated
effluent and untreated stormwater and discharges it into the ocean. coastal creek and natural area
that Doing so provides significant ecosystem benefits to the Noosa community and the wider
environment. This Burgess Creek and wetlands receiving treated effluent and untreated
stormwater impacts on environmental and social values here, but the creek, wetlands and
surrounding bushland still retain environmental and social values, some due to the increased flow.
The area along the creek and the creek mouth are popular spots for walkers, nature lovers and
surfers who traverse the reserve to access the beach.

Since urban development and associated stormwater infrastructure built in the 1960s and the STP
opening upgrade in 1986, the wetlands in the Burgess Creek catchment have absorbed and
filtered the urban runoff and treated water. However, tThe treated water and stormwater discharge
into Burgess Creek has significantly changed the creek and adjacent wetlands, meaning that the
crerek and wetlands have been highly disturbed and modified. – tThe amount, duration and
consistency of flow has dramatically increased, as has the area of permanently inundated land.
Nutrient levels and other pollutants have significantly increased, and water quality generally
decreased. This means thatSpecies composition has likely changed to be dominated by wetland
and waterway species that can handle both the permanent, high inundation, nutrients and reduced
water quality survive in and near the original creek banks in the lower reaches.

Erosion
There are two erosion concerns near the mouth of Burgess Creek. Up to 270 metres of the frontal
dunes to the north of the creek mouth can be eroded during high flow events. The northern bank of
the creek near the mouth, east of the David Low Way, is eroding, due to a combination of
uncontrolled foot traffic down, and on, a very steep creek bank, and high peak waterflow. The
creek alignment at the mouth is highly mobile.

Water contact
Many people are accessing the creek mouth via the informal access off David Low Way. Contact
duration and types range from brief lower limb skin contact while crossing the creek, to prolonged
contacts that are likely to incur ingestion, such as adult supervised children and dogs playing in the
water, and rod fishing. Council recommends people do not put their head underwater in the creek
and provides signage and community updates during heavy rain events.

Protecting Noosa’s environment
While Burgess Creek itself is affected by treated water discharge, it helps protect Noosa River,
Laguna Bay and the Coral Sea. Noosa River’s good condition and Band B rating reported in its
lower reaches through the Healthy Land and Water Report Card20 is unique in urban south-east
Queensland rivers. This is , and due in significant part to Burgess Creek receiving the treated
wastewater from the densely populated coastal areas rather than Noosa River. The higher levels of
infiltration, filtration and nutrient uptake afforded by the natural surfaces and native and weedy
20 Healthy Land and Water (2021). “Report Card 2021”. Available Online: https://hlw.org.au/report-card/

Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                             Page 60


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