Burgess Creek contamination: Sunrise Beach residents call for immediate action

Frustrated Noosa residents hold grave fears for one of its beaches claiming its been contaminated by stormwater and sewage run-off they say has created sinkholes on David Low Way.

Residents of one of Noosa’s most expensive postcodes say stormwater and sewage run-off has contaminated creeks, made children and pets ill and created sinkholes on David Low Way.

Nearly 2000 people have signed a petition from the Eastern Beaches Protection Association which implored Noosa Council to take “immediate” action to stop its dunes, beaches and waterways being contaminated from the run-off.

It comes six months after frustrated residents reported children had become ill after playing in discharge while others had dogs become “seriously ill” after drinking it.

Nearly 2000 people have now signed a petition demanding Noosa Council take real action to stop its own stormwater run-off eroding and contaminating local dunes, beaches and waterways. Pictured are Penny Robertson, Pat Rogers, Christian and Gabriel Cerasani and Andrew McKenna. Picture: Patrick Woods.

However, in the six months since the issues were first reported, association spokeswoman Minna Knight said the council had not taken any steps to address the issues.

Ms Knight said there were major issues near creeks along Sunrise Beach from the run-off and claimed the stormwater had created sinkholes along David Low Way.

“Urgent resources should be redirected towards practical action to protect the beaches and dunes from the stormwater and sewage,” she said in a statement.

“Noosa Council must get back to basics, focus on its core responsibilities to the community and stop the artificial discharge of stormwater and sewage which is destroying the dunes and polluting the environment.”

Sunrise Beach residents hold grave fears for Burgess Creek which they say has been contaminated with sewage and stormwater run-off for months.

“Noosa Council must get back to basics, focus on its core responsibilities to the community and stop the artificial discharge of stormwater and sewage which is destroying the dunes and polluting the environment.”

Resident Gabriel Cerasani said the stormwater and sewage discharge into the region’s creeks was causing erosion, pollution and health risks.

He said the artificial discharge had caused some road sinkholes and that the bridge over David Low Way was at risk.

Sunrise Beach residents hold grave fears for Burgess Creek which they say has been contaminated with sewage and stormwater run-off for months.

Mr Cerasani accused the council of putting “bandaids” on a serious problem.

“They have ignored the creeks like Burgess Creek and the problems have gotten worse,” Mr Cerasani said.

“They have no long term solutions.

“It’s caused sinkholes in David Low Way which is under real threat.”

Each of the claims made by the association were put to Noosa Council who provided a statement from its acting environmental services manager Shaun Walsh as its response.

Mr Walsh said while council managed coastal dune areas along the eastern beaches, including stormwater, Unitywater was responsible for treated effluent run-off.

Sunrise Beach residents hold grave fears for Burgess Creek which they say has been contaminated with sewage and stormwater run-off for months.

Mr Walsh said council was progressing a new management plan for the public coastal foredunes along the eastern beaches.

“We’ve undertaken a detailed survey, commenced engagement with local community groups and the plan is currently being drafted,” he said.

“We anticipate that it will be ready for review and formal public consultation later this financial year.”

Unitywater’s executive manager for sustainable infrastructure solutions Daniel Lambert said there had been no concerns expressed about creek instability due to treated effluent flows released from Noosa Sewage Treatment Plant.

Mr Lambert said extreme wet weather events can cause large volumes of stormwater to enter sewerage networks and inundate the system and cause overflows.

“This occurs through run-off and pipes from homes and buildings being incorrectly connected to the sewerage system instead of the stormwater system,” Mr Lambert said.

Sunrise Beach residents hold grave fears for Burgess Creek which they say has been contaminated with sewage and stormwater run-off for months.

Mr Lambert said the overflows were highly diluted and were 99 per cent water.

“Unitywater’s priority is to provide our community with safe and reliable water and sewerage services that are economically and environmentally sustainable,” Mr Lambert said.

“Unitywater complies with its environmental licence, which places conditions on how the Noosa Sewage Treatment Plant is operated and the quality and quantity of treated effluent able to be released from the plant into Burgess Creek.”

Sunrise Beach is one of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast’s most expensive suburbs with median house sale prices at more than $1.5m.