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2023 LGAQ ANNUAL CONFERENCE MOTIONS

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Larry Sengstock · CEO Office Department

Executive summary

The Local Government Queensland Conference is held annually and provides a forum for all Queensland Councils to come together to table and debate contemporary issues of importance to their local areas and communities as well as identify issues that are likely to be relevant to other local Councils. This report proposes Noosa Council put forward motions for consideration at the LGAQ conference to seek support from other Councils to advocate for the required legislative changes.

Recommendation

That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer (Acting) to the Ordinary Meeting dated 20 July 2023 and approve the submission of the following motions to the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference 2023 for consideration and debate:

  1. "The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland recommending that a submission made by Noosa Council to NGA at the ALGA Conference 2023 is developed and agreed to by the ALGA board for Federal Policy priority and implementation. The motion was carried unopposed by 357 Councils across Australia."
  2. "The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland to formulate a State Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at: 1. No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Queensland coastline, and 2. Dedicated funding to be provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle treated wastewater generated within their localities and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean."
  3. "The LGAQ calls on the State Government to respect the dwelling and population growth projections as advised, and planned for, by each South-East Queensland Local Government and provide adequate funding for infrastructure to match any increase in dwelling and population projections imposed by the State Government during the Shaping SEQ Review process."
  4. "The LGAQ calls on the Qld State and Federal Governments to allocate Funding for a Pilot Program to enable the LGAQ to co-ordinate ‘Psychosocial Risk Reduction Training’."

Report

MOTION A - Cr Lorentson - Support of Noosa Council’s ALGA motion for a National Policy on

Ocean Sewerage Outfalls "The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland recommending that a submission made by Noosa Council to NGA at the ALGA Conference, 2023 is developed and agreed to by the ALGA board for Federal Policy priority and implementation. The motion was carried unopposed by

Councils across Australia."

Background

In June 2023: Noosa Council moved a motion at the Australian Local Government Association

  1. calling on the Australian Government to formulate a National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at:

No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline, and

Dedicated funding to be provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle 100% of all treated wastewater generated within their localities and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean. It was carried unopposed by 357 Councils in Australia. Water scarcity, extreme weather events, droughts, and population growth require efficient water management and sustainable sewerage and stormwater management. It demands that we start valuing the worth of water and start using potable water for better use. It is unacceptable that in 2023, that treated sewage, untreated sewage is still being discharged into our oceans. A practice that commenced in Australia in the 1960s. Whilst it might not be currently possible to do away with marine outfalls completely, we must set ambitious targets, be forward thinking and do what we can to look at alternatives and new technologies to lessen the environmental impact to the receiving environments ie aquatic and coastal ecosystems. Our beaches and coastline are some of our most important public places and must be a key priority for this country. Facts: Data gathered in 2016 from 165 of the 175 ocean and estuarine outfalls provide the first national snapshot of wastewater discharges to Australia's coastal environment. The total volume of wastewater discharged to Australia's oceans in 2016 was 1350 gigalitres: equivalent to 2.7 Sydney harbours. The potential value of this water would have been more than more than $1 billion, had as little as 20% been recycled*. A large proportion 64% of Australia’s 176 coastal outfalls are currently contributing to poor water quality for Australia’s coastal waterways and ocean environments because, wastewater is treated to only a lower level of quality, referred to as a primary or secondary treatment.* *Clean Ocean Foundation, Outfall Database

MOTION B - Cr Lorentson - State Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls "The LGAQ advocate to the State Government of Queensland to formulate a State Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at: 1. No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Queensland coastline, and 2. Dedicated funding to be provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle treated wastewater generated within their localities and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean."

Background

In October 2022: Noosa Council moved a motion at the LGAQ Conference: Regions becoming more Resource Independent through efficient use and re-use of Wastewater. I called on the LGAQ to advocate to the State Government of Qld to undertake a state-wide analysis of recycled water reuse that values the protection of local ecosystems and provides suitable data to assist councils and water authorities and retailers in producing business cases for water reuse. Supported (almost unanimous).

In June 2023: Noosa Council moved a motion at the Australian Local Government Association

  1. calling on the Australian Government to formulate a National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at: • No new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline, and • Dedicated funding to be provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle 100% of all treated wastewater generated within their localities and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean. It was carried unopposed by 357 Councils in Australia. It also attracted over 12,000 signatures This motion supports and aligns with intent and the outcomes sought by ALGA, 2023 and LGAQ,

motions. Queensland coastline and rivers are some of our most important places. They are not rubbish tip. It is time to take a stance to stop new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline. It is time to reduce the impact of not just solid waste but also liquid waste on our environment and communities. It is time to transition towards a circular economy for wastewater and building economic opportunity. And uncertainty around emerging contaminants such as PFAS and micro plastics and toxins requires improved systems and investment to manage WWTP for cleaner oceans. We need to transition to cleaner wastewater, for cleaner oceans, for all of Queensland.

MOTION C - Cr Wilkie - Shaping SEQ Review Process "The LGAQ calls on the State Government to respect the dwelling and population growth projections as advised, and planned for, by each South-East Queensland Local Government and provide adequate funding for infrastructure to match any increase in dwelling and population projections imposed by the State Government during the Shaping SEQ Review process."

Background

The State government is undertaking a review of the SEQ Regional Plan and appears to be drastically increasing population and dwelling projections for SEQ councils, regardless of whether they are attainable or realistic.

MOTION D - Cr Finzel- Psychosocial Risk Reduction Training "The LGAQ calls on the Qld State and Federal Governments to allocate Funding for a Pilot Program

to enable the LGAQ to co-ordinate ‘Psychosocial Risk Reduction Training’"

Background

LGAQ has capacity to co-ordinate a Pilot program with the provision by way of resourcing from the State Government and creating the opportunity to collect data and establish key findings as supported evidence. To upscale the Pilot Program to a State Wide initiative in the future. Councils as duty holders are obligated to ensure that adequate information, training and instruction is provided to workers about the nature of these psychosocial risks and control measures. Promoting a culture of reporting psychosocial hazards. Facilitating Managers alongside workers to model these behaviours requires education and training including but not limited to Trauma Informed Care given Council workers are increasingly on the front line responding to unprecedented natural disasters in the past five years. The associated costs back to Government, private sectors and communities when it comes to reasonably ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of our people is borne by us all. Improving health outcomes through education and prevention with a focus on early intervention with contributions made by a wide range of partners to include all levels of government in addressing the health of women and girls is identified in the principle objectives and actions of ‘The National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030’. Steps forward support the notion that investment into training local Council workers has a ripple affect with our people being seen as ‘Ambassadors’ in sharing learned knowledge through informal pathways. Contributing value towards the advancement of human rights, sustainable development and peace as recognised by UNESCO. Collectively, now more than ever we need to fast track initiatives to find practical ways to minimize impacts of COVID recovery and natural disaster management now and into the future. Building resilience to improve mental health and well-being of our people now living in our communities with the impacts of natural disasters, climate change, rising cost of living, access to affordable housing, and job security is essential.

Report details

Index: ECM/Subject/LGAQ