Residents demand Noosa Council take action over ‘disgusting’ stormwater, sewage run-off issues

Frustrated residents have demanded action to stop stormwater and treated sewage run-off spoiling Noosa’s pristine beaches and creeks, saying children and pets are paying the price.

Residents in an elite pocket of Noosa claim children and pets are being infected by contaminated waters in what’s renowned as a pristine paradise.

An online petition from the Eastern Beaches Protection Association urged the council to take practical action to stop its dunes, beaches and waterways being contaminated with stormwater and treated sewage run-off.

Frustrated residents say children are becoming ill after playing in discharge while others had dogs become “seriously ill”.

More than 1600 signatures have been gathered on the petition since its launch six months ago.

Nippers coach and long-time Noosa resident Gabriel Cersasani said children would get infected and sick after playing in the water.

Mr Cersasani said the contamination issues were across the shire including at Burgess Creek at Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Beach and Little Cove.

“It’s in every little creek, there’s one right in front of Sunshine Beach Surf Club,” Mr Cersasani said.

“You’ll see these kids play in the froth coming out through the creeks and getting infections straight after, parents would call us up.

“If they have a little cut or something it always ends up infected.”

Noosa residents Penny Robertson, Pat Rogers, Christian Cersasani, Gabriel Cersasani and Andrew McKenna are calling on Noosa Council to take action and stop its own stormwater run-off eroding and contaminating local dunes, beaches and waterways. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Cersasani said Noosa Council was aware of the run-off and had put up signs which read: “Warning. Creek water contains treated sewage effluent. Not suitable for human consumption or swimming.“

However, Mr Cersasani said the signs were hidden away from the public eye.

“It’s really hypocritical of council who prides itself on being super green, but this is disgusting,” he said.

“They are the trustees of our beaches and they are allowing this contamination to occur.”

Sunrise Beach resident Penny Robertson said the run-off water in Burgess Creek made her dog seriously ill.

She said she was powerless to stop her dog, Pepper, from drinking the water when playing.

“She would get really bad gastro, she had it for a week and had it a few times,” Ms Robertson said.

“I couldn’t manage it so had to take her into the vet.”

Noosa resident Pat Rogers next to one of the warning signs. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Ms Robertson said she took a sample of the creek water to the vet who had to put Pepper on a double dose of antibiotics.

She said the creek was popular among pet owners and children playing.

“You see so many kids playing in the creek despite the signs, some dunking their heads under too,” Ms Robertson said.

Eastern Beaches Protection Association spokeswoman Minna Knight said the wastewater issues were well-known.

“More and more people are joining our fight to have council acknowledge and fix environmental issues in its own backyard first and foremost, instead of forcing tokenistic restrictions on local homeowners,” Ms Knight said in a statement.

“Fixing it is something council can do right now to help protect and defend our beaches and waterways.”

Noosa Council was approached for comment regarding Mr Cersasani and Ms Robertson’s direct concerns, however it did not respond.

Instead, a response was provided by the council in relation to the association’s concerns.

Council’s environmental services manager Craig Doolan said council actively managed the coastal dune areas along the eastern beaches.

Pat Rogers, Christian and Gabriel Cersasani and Andrew McKenna are among more than 1600 residents to have signed a petition calling on Noosa Council to take action. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Doolan said sewage wastewater run-off was handled by Unitywater.

“Unitywater was established in 2010 and directly manages any issues regarding treated effluent,” Mr Doolan said.

Unitywater’s executive manager Amanda Creevey said there had been no concerns expressed about creek instability due to treated effluent flows released from Noosa sewage treatment plants.

Ms Creevey said Unitywater invested heavily in the protection of the environment in the district.

“Our priority is to provide our community with a high-quality, safe and reliable water and sewerage service that is economically and environmentally sustainable,” Ms Creevey said.

Mr Doolan said the council works closely with community groups to improve the foredunes in the area.

“We have provided $225,000 over three years to local community groups to revegetate the dunes and complete other work,” he said.

Mr Doolan said council was about to embark on a new management plan for public foredunes for the whole of the Eastern Beaches.

“This will be a collaborative program bringing together a range of community groups over the next six months to look at ways to better manage and protect the coastal dunes,” he said.