urban stormwater quality management plan for mackay ......for stormwater quality management being...

Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan for Mackay


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Contents

Contents .............................................................................................................................. ii

1. Executive Summary .................................................................................................... iv

2. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1

3. Purpose of this Document........................................................................................... 2

4. Context ......................................................................................................................... 2

4.1 Mackay Region 2

4.2 Mackay Waterways 4

4.3 Stormwater Management in Mackay 8

5. Legislation .................................................................................................................... 9

5.1 Federal 9

5.2 State 9

5.3 Council 11

5.4 Stormwater Quality Objectives 12

5.4.1 Receiving Waterways 12

5.4.2 New Development - Construction Phase 12

5.4.3 New Development - Operational Phase 13

5.4.4 Living Waterways Framework 15

6. Implementation of Stormwater Quality Management .............................................. 16

6.1 Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management 16

6.2 External Guidelines and Plans 17

6.3 Council Guidelines 18

6.4 Naturalised Waterways 18

6.5 Guideline and Application Summary 19

6.6 Suitably Qualified Person 20

7. Roles ........................................................................................................................... 21

8. Issues/Concerns ........................................................................................................ 26

9. Actions and Program ................................................................................................. 28

10. Funding ................................................................................................................... 36

10.1 Internal Funding 36

10.2 Government & Industry Funding 37

10.3 Funding through the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management 37

11. Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................... 38

12. Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 39


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13. Appendix A: Acronyms .......................................................................................... 42

14. Appendix B: Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management Implementation Projects ........................................................................................ 44

15. Appendix C: Recently Completed Council Initiatives .......................................... 47

16. Appendix D: MRC’s WSUD Assets (as at November 2016) ................................. 56


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1. Executive Summary

Waterways within the Mackay Regional Council Local Government Area provide many benefits including recreation, aesthetics, habitat and environmental values that are important to the community. The urban areas of Mackay are part of the broader catchments and can adversely impact the health of the receiving environment including local waterways and ultimately, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).

Studies have found that there is a direct link between urban development expansion and the degradation of waterway health. Increased impervious area brought about by urbanisation, significantly alters the quality and quantity/volume of stormwater runoff and by doing so, interferes with the natural hydrologic cycle. Increased levels of toxicants (oil, sediment, nutrients and litter), erosion risk and a decrease in the natural functioning of waterways are negative environmental side effects associated with urban development.

Mackay Regional Council (MRC) has been part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Councils Program since 2009 and undertakes initiatives such as community environmental education and improved land, waste and water management. MRC actively participates (and is a member of) the Mackay-Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership which is committed to remaining aligned with other catchment and reef monitoring and management activities including the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, GBRMPA’s Reef Outlook Report and associated integrated monitoring and other reporting programs such as Paddock to Reef.

MRC is committed to managing stormwater runoff from existing and new urban areas of Mackay. This Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan (USQMP) has been prepared to “establish a framework to manage stormwater quality in urban waterways that maintains or enhances a state of balance among environmental, social and economic interests within our community". It supersedes the Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) for Mackay City prepared by consultants GHD and adopted by MRC in 2006. The purpose of the document is to:

• Provide a concise history of stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Provide clear direction on MRC’s vision, preferred approach and expectations for stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Summarise the current frameworks for improving stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Identify the issues currently facing MRC and stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Outline future implementation actions and funding requirements for planning, implementation, communication and education

On-site vegetated stormwater quality management systems (vegetated stormwater assets constructed within a development) do not have a history of success in Mackay, resulting in excessive maintenance demands on MRC. The challenges MRC have experienced with these on-site Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) systems has been due to a combination of design issues (inadequate filter media and no maintenance access provisions), inadequate vegetation establishment, inadequate asset handover procedures, unclear internal maintenance responsibilities and non-existent maintenance once handed over to Council.


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There is potential to lessen the amount of on-site WSUD assets being handed over to Council via the exploration of more suitable stormwater quality management alternatives such as partaking in Council Policy 087 – Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management, utilising the Living Waterways Framework or producing Naturalised Waterways (such as Little McCreadys Creek). These best practice alternatives have been supported by South East Queensland’s Healthy Waterways with the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management being one of a suite of projects that helped secure Mackay the prestigious title of Queensland’s most Sustainable City for 2016 by Keep Queensland Beautiful. The Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan encourages developers to utilise these preferred approaches to urban stormwater quality management rather than on-site treatment.

The Plan identifies a range of priority actions which need to occur over the next 3 years. Funding requirements and budget breakdowns necessary to implement priority actions are listed below but determination of which actions will be progressed in each year and budgetary allocations will be determined through the annual budget process.

Breakdown ($)

Year Number of

Actions Total ($) Maintenance

MRC Capacity Building Training

Investment in Best Practice

Initiatives Monitoring Education

2017/18 47 (33) 539,000 355,000 20,000 78,000 70,000 16,000

2018/19 32 (25) 403,000 355,000 5,000 - 40,000 3,000

2019/20 28 (22) 385,000 355,000 - 25,000 - 5,000

Note: $300,000 per year each year is for the maintenance of WSUD assets. Number in brackets denotes an Internal Council Process where funding is not required.


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2. Introduction

MRC is committed to managing urban development in an ecologically sustainable way, whilst providing protection to the community and infrastructure from flooding. MRC has been one of the most proactive local authorities in Queensland when dealing with urban stormwater runoff. Many of the stormwater management policies adopted by MRC over the past 10 years have been successful in mandating best practice stormwater management outcomes and have been adopted by other regional councils. MRC is constantly reviewing the success of existing policy with a view to improving implementation of stormwater quality management in the region.

Furthermore, MRC has been part of GBRMPA’s Reef Guardian Councils Program since 2009. Community environmental education campaigns and improved land, waste and water management initiatives are just some of the actions undertaken to help protect the GBR. As part of this commitment, MRC actively participates (and is a member of) the Mackay-Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership which brings together over 22 Partnership representatives from a multitude of industries to focus on the health of the regional basins and adjacent coastal marine areas within the region. The Partnership supports the development of an annual Mackay-Whitsunday waterway health report card which provides the community with the information needed to make informed decisions around waterway health and management. The Partnership is committed to remaining aligned with other catchment and reef monitoring and management activities including the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, GBRMPA’s Reef Outlook Report and associated integrated monitoring and other reporting programs such as Paddock to Reef.

This USQMP for Mackay Regional Council outlines current frameworks for managing urban stormwater runoff and identifies a range of issues that need to be addressed going forward. The Plan deals with stormwater quality runoff from new development (greenfield and infill) as well as existing urban areas of Mackay.

MRC recognises the need to strike a balance between supporting new development whilst achieving other outcomes such as environmental protection, aesthetics and social well-being.


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3. Purpose of this Document

The document provides MRC, the industry and community with certainty that MRC is striving to improve policy and processes that dictate stormwater quality management in the Mackay region. This document addresses current legislative requirements, highlights past and present stormwater quality related challenges and aims to guide the future planning and design of stormwater quality systems in the MRC region. It sets a clear way forward for achieving sustainable outcomes that are supported and minimises the impact of urban stormwater quality on the receiving environment. The purpose of the document is to:

• Provide a concise history of stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Provide clear direction on MRC’s vision, preferred approach and expectations for stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Summarise the current frameworks for improving stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Identify the issues currently facing MRC and stormwater quality management in the Mackay region

• Outline future implementation actions and funding requirements for planning, implementation, communication and education.

4. Context

4.1 Mackay Region

The MRC Local Government Area is bordered by the O’Connell River in the north, Ilbilbie to the south, the Eungella Range to the west, the islands to the east and covers an expanse of 7300km2 (refer Figure 1). It incorporates the townships of Calen and Bloomsbury in the north, Walkerston, Marian, Mirani, Gargett, Finch Hatton and Eungella to the west and Sarina and Koumala to the south. The Mackay urban area makes up 117km2 which is 1.6% of the total Local Government Area.

As at June 30, 2015 the estimated resident population within the Mackay Regional Council Local Government Area was approximately 123,700 people. The population has grown by approximately 34,000 persons from 2001 to 2015, with the region experiencing historic high annual population growth above 2% between 2002 and 2013. The rapid growth during this time period can be attributed to strong activity in the resources sector, resurgence in agribusiness and growth in construction, logistics and tourism. From mid-2013, the population growth has stabilised due to a decline in migration to the region. Figure 2 shows the population growth from 2001 to 2015. The Mackay region’s population is projected to grow from 123,700 (2015) to approximately 171,000 persons by 2036.

MRC’s Draft Planning Scheme proposes to accommodate the projected population growth through focused urban expansion in the 5 key urban areas of Mackay, Walkerston, Sarina, Marian and Mirani. This includes urban expansion in the north and south of the Mackay urban area, northern Sarina, and southern Marian and Mirani.

Significant planning has occurred investigating the viability of potential future growth areas, Ooralea and Richmond. Intensification of existing urban areas has also been investigated. Given the projected development forecasts, a business as usual approach with regards to conventional urban stormwater quality management will see a decline in health of the region’s waterways and the GBR – waterways that are highly valued by the community for


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many reasons including recreation, industry, tourism, flora/fauna diversity, habitat and aesthetics.

Figure 1: MRC Local Government Area (Mackay Region Council, 2013)


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Figure 2: Population Growth in Mackay Regional Council area – 2001 to 2015

4.2 Mackay Waterways

Mackay’s urban waterway catchments and sub-catchments are listed below:

Major Waterway

• Pioneer River

Waterways north of the Pioneer River

• Reliance Creek/Orphanage Lagoon

• Eimeo Creek/Bucasia Beach

• McCreadys Creek

• Aspley Creek

• Janes/Goosepond Creek

• Vines Creek

• Bassett Creek

• Fursden Creek

• Alligator Creek

• Barnes Creek

Waterways south of the Pioneer River

• Alligator Creek (City West)

• Sandfly Creek

• Shellgrit Creek

• Lagoons

• Bakers Creek

Mackays urban waterway catchments can be viewed on the following three pages.


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Figure 3: Mackay’s urban stormwater sub-catchments, Reliance Creek in the north through to Bakers Creek in the south and Walkerston to the west


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Figure 4: Mackay’s urban stormwater sub-catchments, Pioneer River through Marian and Mirani


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Figure 5: Mackay’s urban stormwater sub-catchments, Sarina area


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4.3 Stormwater Management in Mackay

In addition to the waterways listed in the previous section, MRC is responsible for maintaining approximately 600km of underground stormwater pipes, 24,000 stormwater pits, 77km of open channel, 11km of levees and a multitude of stormwater quality improvement devices (e.g. constructed wetlands, bioretention basins, bioretention pods, vegetated swales, naturalised waterways, lakes and gross pollutant traps).

MRC has developed and enforced a number of stormwater management policies over the last 10 years which mandate stormwater management for new development. Furthermore, the State Planning Policy (SPP) now mandates stormwater management for new development as well. Therefore, there are many more vegetated stormwater assets currently ‘on maintenance’ with developers that will soon become a Council asset to maintain for the duration of their lifecycle.

Concerns regarding the loss of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, water quality and lack of capacity within the local industry has challenged the traditional approach to urban stormwater quality management in the Mackay region. In addition to this, most design approaches and construction methodologies currently in practise are based on works completed in other States and Territories within Australia (and the world). Sustainable initiatives such as environmental health, water quality, regional (off-site) treatment systems, naturalised waterways and fish passage have been identified as part of the list of preferred outcomes for the Mackay region.

MRC have learned a lot from previously implemented stormwater quality management systems and is therefore willing and dedicated to working with developers and contractors to improve current and future urban stormwater quality management strategies through the avenues listed above.


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5. Legislation

5.1 Federal

These following Federal Acts provide an internationally recognised world class system of environment and heritage protection. To ensure use of the GBR remains sustainable, activities in the World Heritage Area and Marine Park are tightly controlled under these laws, as well as other relevant State and Federal laws. Urban stormwater quality practices have a direct impact on the reef, therefore Federal reef legislation is relevant. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 is the primary Act relating to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Other Commonwealth and Queensland Government legislation also applies.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 enables the Australian Government to join with the States and Territories in providing a truly national scheme of environment and heritage protection and biodiversity conservation. The EPBC Act focuses Australian Government interests on the protection of matters of national environmental significance, with the states and territories having responsibility for matters of State and local significance.

5.2 State

The State Government currently regulates water quality, including stormwater quality, through a framework of legislation and policy guidelines including the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 and the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016.

Environmental Protection Act 1994 The Environmental Protection Act 1994 is the State’s primary pollution control legislation. It defines the nature of environmental harm and attributes sizable penalties for anyone committing pollution offences, environmental harm offences or failing to take reasonable and practicable preventative action to avoid detriment to the environment. Under Section 440ZG, it is an offence to unlawfully deposit a prescribed water contaminant to waters, roadside gutters or drains. Twenty-two prescribed contaminants are listed in Schedule 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 including sand, silt, and sediment. Under Section 319, an obligation is placed upon all persons in Queensland who are carrying out activities which may cause environmental harm to comply with the ‘General Environmental Duty’ (GED). This requires that all reasonable and practicable measures must be adopted to prevent and minimise environmental harm. Although not being able to demonstrate compliance against GED is not an offence, demonstrating that all reasonable and practicable measures have been adopted is a defence for offences such as water contamination. For instance, under Chapter 10, Section 493A, where a person deposits a prescribed water contaminant to waters or causes unlawful environmental harm, it is a defence to demonstrate compliance with the GED.

Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 The intent of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 (EPP Water) is to achieve the overall outcomes of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 by protecting the health of Queensland's waters (defined as waters in rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, aquifers estuaries and coastal areas) whilst allowing for development that maintains or enhances


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ecological processes. It establishes a hierarchy of preferred management options for wastes, including water contaminants, which when applied, protects or enhances the Environmental Values (EV’s) of waters. Decision makers who are involved in land use planning, development assessment and natural resource management will achieve EV protection by achieving water quality targets.

The Policy:

• Identifies Environmental Values (EV’s) for aquatic ecosystems and for human uses including drinking water, farm supply, agriculture, industry and recreation

• Determines Water Quality Objectives (WQO's) to enhance or protect EV's

• Establishes a sound statutory decision making framework that promotes consistent, equitable and informed decisions about Queensland's waters

• Establishes for land use planning and development under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and water resource planning under the Water Act 2000

• Promotes community awareness by active involvement and consultation

Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 sets Water Quality Objectives (WQO’s) that define the health of aquatic ecosystems and assesses the impact an activity in a catchment will have on water quality. The WQO’s show target pollutant concentrations in receiving waterways. These target levels are the levels that are necessary to achieve Environmental Values (EV’s) under ambient (dry weather or base-flow) conditions set by the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Specific mapping and Water Quality Objectives have been established for Mackay in the Pioneer River, Plane Creek Basin and the Proserpine River as illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Example EPP (Water) Policy & Mapping for the Pioneer River, Plane Creek and Proserpine River Basins. Full detailed policy and mapping can be viewed at http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/water/policy/


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State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016 The State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016 sets out the State Government interests that must be addressed through Local Government Planning Schemes, Regional Plans and decisions involved with the designation of land for community infrastructure. It forms part of Queensland’s land use planning system which supports development, protects the natural environment and enables communities to grow and prosper. In terms of stormwater quality management, the SPP defines when management is required (i.e. development of >2500m2 and 6 dwellings and where impervious area is greater than 25% of the net developable area). MRC is obligated to implement the SPP which requires new development to develop a Site Based Stormwater Management Plan that is consistent with local stormwater planning and provides achievable stormwater quality treatment measures that meet the Design Objectives in Appendix 3 SPP Code: Water Quality. Table B in the Appendix displays the Design Objectives based on climatic regions. The Mackay region is located in the Central Queensland (North) climatic zone. Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) 2014 The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) 2014 – 2021, is a collaboration between Local Government stakeholders, Mackay Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council and Whitsunday Regional Council. The objective of the WQIP partnership is to:

• Determine and address the main water quality concerns in the region, with a focus on risk to the Great Barrier Reef, and to

• Identify and prioritise land management actions

The WQIP identifies EV’s, WQO’s and Targets for all receiving waterways in the region. Extensive water quality monitoring has been completed to inform the Objectives and Targets which establish the ultimate goal for water quality in the regions waterways. The EV’s, WQO’s and Targets identified in the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 (EPP Water) have been derived from the WQIP.

http://reefcatchments.com.au/files/2015/06/WATER-QUALITY-IMPROVEMENT-PLAN-MACKAY-WHITSUNDAY-ISAAC-2014-2021_DRAFT.pdf

5.3 Council

The following Codes and Policies are used by MRC to implement stormwater quality management in Mackay on new development:

Codes

• Planning Scheme, Part 3 – Desired Environmental Outcomes, May 2009

• Planning Scheme, Part 8 – Overlay Codes. Division 5 – Assessment Criteria for Coastal Management and Biodiversity Overlay Code, May 2009

• Planning Scheme, Part 9 – Development Codes. Division 9 – Environment and Infrastructure Code, May 2009

• Scheme Amendment 2 – Attachment F: Constructed Lakes – Environment and Infrastructure Code, 2007

Policy

• Planning Scheme Policy No. 15.05 - Engineering Design Guidelines, Stormwater Drainage Design, March 2008


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• Planning Scheme Policy No. 15.07 – Engineering Design Guidelines, Soil & Water Quality Management, March 2008

• Planning Scheme Policy No. 15.15 – Engineering Design Guidelines, Constructed Lakes, March 2008

• Planning Scheme Policy No. SC6.15 - Engineering Design Guidelines, On-Site Detention (OSD) for Small Lots

• Planning Scheme Policy No SC6.17 - Engineering Design Guidelines, Deemed to Comply Solutions for Stormwater Quality Management

• Mackay Regional Council Corporate Plan, 2015 – 2020

• Mackay Regional Council Asset Management Policy, March 2010

• Mackay Regional Council Corporate Environmental Policy, March 2012

• Mackay Regional Council Corporate Sustainability Policy, March 2012

• Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management (Policy No. 087), August 2014

5.4 Stormwater Quality Objectives

The State Government Legislation and MRC Codes and Policies require the following objectives to be achieved for new development and MRC initiated projects in the Mackay region. These objectives are correct at the time of writing this document but are subject to change. Both State Planning Policy and MRC Codes and Policies must be consulted when establishing stormwater quality objectives for new developments in the Mackay region.

5.4.1 Receiving Waterways

The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 establishes target water quality concentrations for all the waterways in the Mackay region. Specifically the following documents in Schedule 1 shall apply:

• Pioneer River and Plane Creek Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives (2009)

• Proserpine River, Whitsunday Island and O'Connell River Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives (2009)

This list of Objectives is not repeated in this document as they are extensive. Reference should also be made to the Objectives presented in Mackay Whitsunday Isaac WQIP 2014 from which EV’s, WQO’s and Targets have been derived.

5.4.2 New Development - Construction Phase

Construction Phase objectives outlined in the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016 must be achieved for new development that triggers the following development categories:

1) A material change of use for urban purposes that involves a land area greater than 2500m2 that:

a) Will result in an impervious area greater than 25% of the net developable area, or

b) Will result in six or more dwellings, or

2) Reconfiguring a lot for urban purposes that involves a land area greater than 2500m2 and will result in six or more lots, or

3) Operational works for urban purposes that involve disturbing more than 2500m2 of land


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The relevant objectives for the Construction Phase of development are produced in Table A and apply to all climatic regions.

Construction Phase Objectives – State Planning Policy Appendix 3 Table A

5.4.3 New Development - Operational Phase

Operational Phase objectives outlined in the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016 must be achieved for new development that triggers the following development categories:

1) A material change of use for urban purposes that involves a land area greater than 2500m2 that:

a) Will result in an impervious area greater than 25% of the net developable area, or

b) Will result in six or more dwellings, or

2) Reconfiguring a lot for urban purposes that involves a land area greater than 2500m2 and will result in six or more lots, or


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3) Operational works for urban purposes than involve disturbing more than 2500m2 of land

The relevant objectives for the Operational Phase of development are produced in Table B and apply to all climatic regions (excluding western Queensland and Cape York/Far North Queensland, for population centres greater than 25,000 persons) with population centres greater than 3,000 persons.

Operational (Post Construction) Phase Objectives – State Planning Policy Appendix 3 Table B


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5.4.4 Living Waterways Framework

Healthy Waterways - Water by Design have released the Living Waterways framework in a response to poor on-ground stormwater management outcomes (i.e. poor design approaches). The framework has been endorsed by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) as a way of demonstrating compliance with A01.1 of the SPP Code to achieve environmental best practice management. Living Waterways advocates for the re-establishment of the essential relationship between natural water processes, their environments, human activities and experiences. It utilises a scoring system built around four themes namely Living Water, Living Places, Living Communities and Living Local Economies.

The scoring system incorporates a series of mandatory and non-mandatory criteria. Points are accrued by meeting the items outlined in the scoring system. A series of principles and values underpin each theme and are imbedded in the scoring system: http://healthywaterways.org/u/lib/mob/20141010171640_5607a66ccaf6956d9/2014_livingwaterwaysbooklet-28mb.pdf

It encourages a new way of thinking where a more flexible approach to achieving urban stormwater quality Design Objectives may be investigated.

MRC is currently utilising the Living Waterways approach in the design of some of its own projects, namely the detailed design of the McCreadys Creek South Regional Wetlands and encouraging new development in Mackay to consider this flexible options to best practice stormwater quality management. MRC is considering formal adoption of the Living Waterways framework as part of the Planning Scheme to mandate it through the development approval process.


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6. Implementation of Stormwater Quality Management

MRC’s Planning Scheme Policy’s outline how new development will be implemented throughout the Mackay region. They Policy’s provide a detailed direction which is largely focused on community planning ideals whilst ensuring the State’s and regions needs are incorporated. The Codes, Policies and Objectives relevant to stormwater quality management are listed in previous chapters. The following sections outline the industry guidelines and MRC guidelines which have been adopted by MRC to implement stormwater quality management from conceptual design through the development approval and construction process to asset transfer to MRC.

6.1 Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management

MRC’s preferred approach for complying with the operational phase stormwater quality is through the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management (the Mechanism).

http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/environment/publications_and_plans/waterways/voluntary_mechanism_for_stormwater_quality_management

The Mechanism allows developers to make a payment to MRC in lieu of providing stormwater quality management within their development. Payments will be made to a MRC fund that will be used to deliver targeted regional stormwater quality improvement to offset the pollutant loads not treated within the development.

It has been developed to improve the efficiencies of a development’s stormwater management requirements through cost effective solutions. The Mechanism is viewed as a locally appropriate and innovative approach that reflects the objectives of the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016. The SPP places a strong emphasis on finding locally and regionally relevant solutions whilst outlining the outcomes needed to achieve the State interests, and enabling Local Government to determine the best way to do this for its community.

The Mechanism has been established due to difficulties MRC is currently experiencing in achieving post-construction phase Design Objectives (i.e. poor designs, poor construction and lack of industry experience with reference to site based bioretention basins and constructed wetlands) as well as the ideal setting in Mackay for the creation of regional stormwater management opportunities on undevelopable floodplains.

A draft approach was developed in early 2014, together with preliminary Mechanism payments, and presented to industry via a representative group (Mackay-Whitsunday) of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA). This allowed MRC to gauge industry’s reaction to the approach and the likely uptake.

MRC Policy 087 – Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management was formally adopted by MRC in August 2014 with a high proportion of the development since this date, partaking in the Mechanism. MRC has commenced implementation of regional stormwater management initiatives using the funds. The Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management was one of a suite of projects that helped Mackay secure the prestigious title of Queensland’s most Sustainable City for 2016 by Keep Queensland Beautiful.


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6.2 External Guidelines and Plans

Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM) The Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM) provides assistance to engineers and designers in the planning and design of urban drainage systems in Queensland. The procedures outlined in the Manual aim to encourage uniformity in urban drainage design practices throughout Queensland.

The aim of QUDM is to provide details of technical and regulatory aspects to be considered during the planning, design and management of urban stormwater drainage systems, and to provide details of appropriate design methods and computational procedures. QUDM has been adopted by MRC. Healthy Waterways - Water by Design Guidelines The Healthy Waterways - Water by Design Program was established by the Healthy Waterways Partnership (Healthy Waterways Ltd) to support the uptake and implementation of stormwater quality management. A core part of the Water by Design Program has been to develop and publish a range of publically available documents which provide best practice advice around the design and implementation of stormwater quality management, particularly in South East Queensland (SEQ).

These documents are used by MRC for the design and implementation of stormwater management infrastructure. To suit Mackay’s local climatic conditions, some increase in maintenance frequency is necessary from that stated in the text. Formal adoption of the guidelines will be actioned in future years. Instances where MRC requirements differ from advice contained within the Water by Design Guidelines are clearly separate MRC documents (refer below). The Water by Design Guidelines are available to developers, consultants and design practitioners and will be periodically updated as technologies and approaches to stormwater quality management advance.

International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (IECA) was developed to provide assistance to erosion and sediment control practitioners in the planning, design, installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control measures on construction and building sites. The document is used by MRC as the preferred document for implementation of erosion and sediment control in the Mackay region to achieve the construction phase Design Objectives. MRC has its own Erosion and Sediment Control Compliance Program that has been active since 2012. Localised guidelines pertaining to ESC measures on small scale building sites have been created and issued to the industry. MRC Guidelines can be accessed via the following: http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/125824/EROSION_SEDIMENT_CONTROL_Low_Res.pdf Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan is the overarching framework for protecting and managing the GBR from 2015 to 2050. The Plan is a key component of the Australian Government’s response to the recommendations of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The committee reviews the state of conservation of all properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan The GBR is under pressure from many factors, one of which is the poor quality of water running into it from adjacent catchments. The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) is a framework for the Australian and Queensland governments to work together,


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along with industry, regional natural resource bodies and others, to improve the quality of water flowing into the GBR.

6.3 Council Guidelines

MRC have developed a number of Guideline documents which supplement external Guidelines and ensures that specific issues in the Mackay region are considered through the development assessment process. These include:

• Planning Scheme Policy No. 15.15 – Engineering Design Guidelines, Constructed Lakes, March 2008

• Planning Scheme Policy No. SC6.15 - Engineering Design Guidelines, On-Site Detention (OSD) for Small Lots

• Planning Scheme Policy No SC6.17 - Engineering Design Guidelines, Deemed to Comply Solutions for Stormwater Quality Management

• Mackay Regional Council MUSIC Guidelines, Version 1.1, September 2008

• Mackay – WSUD for Flat Sites, 2010

• Best Practice Guidelines for Controlling Stormwater Pollution from Building Sites, May 2012

• Erosion and Sediment Control – A Field Guide for Construction Site Managers, February 2010

• Example Site-Based Stormwater Quality Management Plan for Mackay, January 2011

• Plant Selection for WSUD Systems – WSUD Technical Design Guidelines for Mackay, April 2014

Planning Scheme Policies can be accessed via:

http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/business/planning_and_development/planning_schemes_and_strategic_planning

Other Guideline documents listed above can be accessed via:

http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/environment/publications_and_plans/waterways

6.4 Naturalised Waterways

MRC has recently developed and adopted a Naturalised Channel design standard for application in the Mackay region. The design has been developed to improve amenity and aesthetics of drains in Mackay and also to provide water quality treatment within a drainage corridor. Little McCreadys Creek is a local project where the Naturalised Waterway approach has been implemented. This approach will minimise the foot print of downstream regional wetland options and will lead to lower lifecycle costs. The design is provided in Standard Drawing A3-8370A. www.mackay.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/184342/A3-08370A.pdf Further details are provided in Appendix C. The principle will not replace traditional channel design (Mackay Standard Drainage Drawing A3-868C) but will co-exist and be utilised as an option where community and environmental benefits are apparent from the implementation of this planning decision.


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6.5 Guideline and Application Summary

Table 1 provides Guidelines which must be referred to during stages of design development. Applicants must consider if any additional Guidelines have been adopted by MRC as part of the development planning process and prior to submission of a development application.

Table 1: Internal and External Guidelines and how they are used in the Mackay region

Gu

ide

lin

e

Phase of Development

Pla

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Concept Design Guideline1

Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality

Management

Queensland Urban Drainage Manual Planning Scheme Policy No SC6.17 - Engineering

Design Guidelines, Deemed to Comply Solutions for

Stormwater Quality Management

Mackay Regional Council MUSIC Guidelines Planning Scheme Policy No. SC6.15 - Engineering

Design Guidelines, On-Site Detention (OSD) for Small

Lots

Planning Scheme Policy No. 15.15 – Engineering

Design Guidelines, Constructed Lakes

Mackay – WSUD for Flat Sites Example Site-Based Stormwater Quality Management

Plan for Mackay

Mackay Regional Council MUSIC Guidelines Stormwater Harvesting Guideline

1

Technical Design Guideline (including relevant chapter

updated e.g. Bioretention Technical Design Guideline) 1

Standard Drawings (IPWEAQ supplied) Plant Selection for WSUD Systems – WSUD Technical

Design Guidelines for Mackay

Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (IECA) Erosion and Sediment Control – A Field Guide for

Construction Site Managers

Best Practice Guidelines for Controlling Stormwater

Pollution from Building Sites

Construction and Establishment Guideline1

Asset Transfer Guideline (Transferring Ownership of

Vegetated Stormwater Assets) 1

Maintaining Vegetated Stormwater Assets (Guideline) Rectifying Vegetated Stormwater Assets (Guideline)

1

1. Healthy Waterways – Water by Design Guideline


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6.6 Suitably Qualified Person

Stormwater quality management in Mackay must be designed and certified by a suitably qualified person. A suitably qualified person is one (or more) of the following:

• For Urban Stormwater Quality and Quantity Management - A person with relevant tertiary qualifications or a Registered Practicing Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) (civil engineering, environmental engineering). The person must have at least 5 years demonstrated experience in the design and delivery of stormwater management strategies.

• For Erosion and Sediment Control - A person who has minimum 5 year experience as a Certified Practicing Soil Scientist (CPSS), Certified Practitioner in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) or as a suitably experienced engineer (RPEQ) with training in soil science and erosion and sediment control. Such persons will be responsible for designing erosion and sediment control plans and supervising the delivery of erosion and sediment control on development sites.

• For Lakes - A person with tertiary qualifications or equivalent, such as an RPEQ (environmental engineering) or environmental scientist (or similar), and at least 5 years demonstrated experience in the design and management of lakes.

Note that suitable qualification in one of the disciplines above does not necessarily mean the person is qualified in all aspects of stormwater management. For example, a person qualified to complete stormwater quality and quantity management does not necessarily qualify for lake design or geomorphic assessment.


Page | 21

7. Roles

The ultimate responsibility for urban stormwater management falls to MRC. This includes managing and maintaining stormwater quality assets to ensure that adverse impacts to receiving waters, GBR and waterway corridors are minimised or prevented. MRC’s capacity includes:

• Managing waterways and catchments in a way that maintains or enhances a state of balance among environmental, social and economic interests within the community

• Land use planning. Mackay’s current Planning Scheme is a key tool where MRC can influence the management of stormwater quality. The Planning Scheme provides opportunities for MRC to develop innovative ways to deliver improved stormwater quality related planning decisions. The current draft Planning Scheme will become the key tool once adopted.

• Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of the open and closed stormwater drainage networks and the development and implementation of environmental plans regarding urban stormwater quality management. When exercising this responsibility, MRC has a legal obligation to take ‘reasonable and practicable’ measures to minimise harm to receiving waters and the surrounding environment (s319 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994) and to consider the implementation of measures to reduce the contamination of waters by stormwater and planning and design approaches for minimising ecological impacts and providing protection from flooding

• A role in facilitating community involvement in waterway and catchment management in the city via catchment based planning and the support of community groups with an interest in, and focus on, waterways. The Water Quality Improvement Plan by Reef Catchments is an alternative to the Healthy Waters Management Plan in s24 of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009.

• A responsibility to regulate activities which impact on water including small industries under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. In exercising its responsibilities, MRC is to perform its functions and powers to best achieve the objectives of the Environmental Protection Act 1994

• A shared responsibility to respond to environmental incidents in the city in order to minimise risk to the public, workers, constructed assets and natural features of the city. Many of these incidents involve the city’s stormwater network (e.g. fuel spills from a major traffic accident)

• A responsibility to provide leadership and move beyond compliance with environmental legislation in MRC’s operational areas. MRC is an operator of a range of facilities and undertakes many activities that can pollute stormwater such as sewage infrastructure, landfill and road works

This Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan is the direct responsibility of the Waterways Team. This team resides within the Parks, Environment & Sustainability Program in the Development Services Department of MRC. A number of different programs within Council, including Strategic Planning, Technical Services, Civil Operations, Assets and Governance, are responsible for both the implementation of the Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan and the successful delivery of stormwater management. Table 2 displays the MRC Program and Department responsible for urban stormwater quality management.


Page | 22

Table 2 - Mackay Regional Council structure and summary of current roles and responsibilities in relation to stormwater management

Position/Program/Department Roles & Responsibilities

Office of Mayor & CEO

Chief Executive Officer

Executive Officer

Legal Counsel

Establish organisational structure. Manage staff/Councillor interactions. Ensure Council decisions are implemented promptly

Assist Chief Executive Officer in every day MRC operations

Manage land acquisition process

Director Community & Client Services

Manager Corporate Communications & Marketing

Communications Coordinator

Manager Health & Regulatory

Coordinator Environmental Health & Education Services

Environmental Protection Officer

Coordinator Regulatory Services

Development Compliance Officer

Emergency Management Coordinator

Technical Officer Emergency Management

Coordinate media communications, marketing and MRC website. Receive complaints that may relate to stormwater

Administer powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for environmental harm offences. Incudes erosion and sediment control offences, odour complaints, illegal dumping (including green waste) and water contamination offences etc

Coordinate emergency response based on modelled flood and storm tide information (including Bureau of Meteorology).

Director Organisational Services

Manager Asset Management

Assets Systems Coordinator

Manager Governance & Safety

Coordinator Corporate Governance

NAS Partnership Manager

Team Leader GIS

Manage MRC’s assets database – Assetic assets, GPT’s and open drains. Contains infrastructure information (pits, pipes etc), WSUD and GPT’s

Ensures MRC Policy is up to date with relevant requirements. Develop internal policy.

Geographic Information System (GIS) including the preparation of urban stormwater and sub-catchment mapping, WSUD, GPT and other infrastructure layers. Provides support to asset management and a number of other internal programs


Page | 23

Director Development Services

Manager Development Engineering

Senior Development Engineering Officer

Engineering Officers

Development Construction Coordinator

Senior Development Construction Inspector

Development Construction Inspectors

Manager Development Assessment

Principal Planners – South/North

Planning Officers

Manager Parks, Environment & Sustainability

Botanic Gardens Curator

Natural Environment Coordinator

Natural Environment Project Officer

Operational Forward Parks Planner

Supervisor Natural Environment

Supervisor Waterways

Manager Strategic Planning

Principal Engineer

Infrastructure Planning Engineer

Principal Planner

Strategic Infrastructure Planner

Manager Economic Development

City Centre Coordinator

Development Assessment - Assess site-based stormwater management plan (SBSMP) for the level of risk and to ensure it is in accordance with the Engineering Design Guidelines, Water By Design Guidelines and State Planning Policy. Operational Works - Assess SBSMP for proposed treatment and assess drainage

Construction inspectors ensure Stormwater Quality Management Plan is implemented in accordance with the approved design and to construction specifications. On maintenance bonding and asset transfer are also managed to ensure MRC receives stormwater quality assets and the necessary documentation (e.g. ‘As Constructed’ drawings and Maintenance Management Plans). Assess Development Applications against relevant Planning Scheme codes and State Planning Policy. Ensure a consistent approach through the entire DA process

Responsible for the maintenance of WSUD assets including vegetated waterways. Responsible for administering funds under MRC’s Natural Environment Levy. Responsible for stormwater quality, maintenance of fishways as well as specific projects impacting on water quality and stream health, such as fish kills and aquatic weed outbreaks. Oversees the implementation of: the Planning scheme, flood and storm tide studies, open space policy, and the infrastructure charges framework Facilitates business growth by working with all stakeholders to promote the Mackay region


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Director Engineering & Commercial Infrastructure

Manager Technical Services

Design Coordinator

Designer

Assistant Designer

Landscape Architect

Survey Coordinator

Manager Civil Projects

Construction Engineer

Manager Civil Operations

Maintenance Superintendent

Supervisor Roads & Drainage

Southern Coordinator

North West Coordinator

Central Coordinator

Regional Coordinator

Asset and Project Engineer

Project Engineer

Chief Operating Officer Water & Waste Services

Manager Infrastructure Delivery

Project Manager

Senior Engineer

Design of stormwater infrastructure and drainage master planning. Master drainage studies, Capital Works Program, landscaping associated with MRC infrastructure projects

Construction and reconstruction of roads and drainage projects (including bridges) in accordance with the Capital Works Program

Construction and maintenance of gross pollutant traps (gully pits, trash racks, pipe inlet bars etc). Civil Operations currently have the responsibility of maintaining some detention basins, the others are maintained by Parks Environment & Sustainability. Will be required to undertake major refurbishments of WSUD assets (filter media replacement, desilting) as required by Parks Environment & Sustainability. Responsible for trunk infrastructure including open drains and underground systems.

Water and waste business including community consultation and water education programs Delivery of water and waste water Capital Works for MRC and community. Construction of stormwater quality devices around facilities such as new waste water treatment plant and pumping stations


Page | 25

Manager Water Network

Civil Services Coordinator

Lowering of sewer rising mains.

Manager Planning & Sustainability

Senior Planning Engineer

Manager Water Treatment

Principal Scientist

Monitoring of point sources for compliance issues E.g. waste water treatment plant, pump stations, sewer overflows etc.

Water quality monitoring and analysis (NATA accredited lab)


Page | 26

8. Issues/Concerns

The following table summarises some of the recent challenges Mackay has experienced with the stormwater quality management systems.

Issue Commentary

Bioretention Basins

Some bioretention systems in the Mackay region are being designed as large, end of pipe solutions for water quality treatment. They are often unsightly as many are constructed with large besser-block retaining walls and fences to minimise impact on developable land. Most are not integrated well into the landscape and are far from the envisioned principles of WSUD.

Bioretention Coarse Sediment Forebays

Many coarse sediment forebays are not letting adequate water through to the vegetated part of the bioretention system. Some contain small drain holes that are prone to blockage. Some do not have drain holes at all and are a physical barrier to any water entering the basin and being utlised by the vegetation. If a coarse sediment forebay is used on a basin, it should have vertical slots at least 100mm wide that extend the entire height of the concrete separator. These slots should be spaced closely together. The concrete separator may also be removed completely as they are no longer a design requirement in best practice Guidelines. This is the preferred option for Council if a bioretention is to be built.

Maintenance Access

Some stormwater quality assets are being designed and constructed with little or no consideration given to maintenance access. On some occasions, the maintenance access is constructed on batters that are too steep and therefore unfeasible to successfully utilise.

Bioretention Filter Media

Many of the bioretention devices in the Mackay region appear to be displaying problems due to inadequate filter media. They appear to be too free-draining and lack necessary organic matter, therefore unable to sustain healthy plant growth (much like a sand filter). Currently, local filter media issues include:

• Presence of soldier crabs and yabbies on a number of occasions (indicating it is essentially beach sand)

• Salt laden and not washed

• Has no or insufficient organic matter content to sustain the plants

• Hydraulic conductivity is too high (closer to 500mm/hr rather than 200m/hr)

• Sand does not hold moisture to sustain plants

Construction to be undertaken in accordance with Water by Design (2010) Construction and Establishment Guidelines: Swales, Bioretention Systems and Wetlands. Moreover, due to Mackay’s climate, bioretention systems that incorporate saturated zones are performing better than standard designs in terms of plant health. If on-site bioretention systems must be used, then a saturated zone system should be investigated.

Proprietary Stormwater Quality Treatment Devices

There are a range of proprietary stormwater devices available on the market for use in private industrial and commercial development across Australia. Many are cartridge based systems, located beneath the ground and are therefore out of sight – out of mind. The world of proprietary filtration devices is a technical and competitive space. MRC drafted Standard Conditions to ensure options are available to the developer to approve these devices.

MRC’s preference is for stormwater quality management to be via Council Policy 087 – Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management or utilising principles of the Living Waterways Policy.


Page | 27

Construction and Transfer

The transfer of ownership of a vegetated stormwater asset from the developer to the ultimate asset owner (MRC) is a critical process. Currently, MRC systems and processes that ensure these assets are designed, constructed and established properly are not consistently being applied, often resulting in the asset being received in poor condition. Systems are being handed over to MRC that are failing, require intensive maintenance of fundamental design flaws such as inadequate or non-existent maintenance access or inappropriate filter media (inadequate handover procedure and lack of internal knowledge regarding the delicate WSUD systems).

It is important that MRC inherit vegetated stormwater assets that are functioning properly.

MRC’s preference is for stormwater quality management to be via Council Policy 087 – Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management or utilising principles of the Living Waterways Policy and Naturalised Waterways.

Maintenance

Local climatic conditions with extended dry spells followed by periods of intense rainfall and flash flooding makes effective stormwater quality management through WSUD implementation, a very challenging scenario. Add to this, fundamental design issues and the challenges associated with rapid invasive weed growth, then there really are concerns about the appropriateness for this concept as a long term option for MRC and the community.

In 2014/15 MRC allocated a budget to maintain WSUD systems and establish maintenance roles and responsibilities. Prior to this it was unclear to whom the ongoing maintenance responsibilities would fall to within MRC. Many systems had become weed infested: yielded public complaint and may now require full scale rectification which costs greater than 10 times the cost of ongoing planned maintenance activities. Currently, MRC allocates $300,000/yr to maintain WSUD assets. This budget allocation will need to increase as additional assets are handed over to MRC to be maintained for their lifecycle.

Monitoring Successful implementation of on-site bioretention basins and constructed wetlands in the Mackay region has been questionable. Issues/concerns with the design, construction, establishment and maintenance of these systems begs the question as to whether these systems are meeting their design intent in north Queensland environments. MRC has commissioned Catchment Solutions to undertake water quality monitoring at selected sites to gauge the stormwater quality effectiveness of these systems.


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9. Actions and Program

Future implementation of stormwater quality management in the Mackay region has been the focus of numerous works to date. These works have identified a range of future actions which have been grouped into the following:

• Planning & Implementation – To successfully plan for and maintain MRC’s existing WSUD assets and to recommend other solutions that satisfy SPP requirements moving forward.

• Communication - To ensure that appropriate communication and integration occurs between MRC and other Natural Resource Management (NRM) Groups, Agencies and Departments.

• Education – To ensure that education and awareness of stormwater quality issues are improved.

• Funding – To ensure that adequate funding for implementation of the Plan is obtained from sources within MRC (including the establishment of new Waterway Operational Funds), from State and Federal Government and from developer contributions.

• Monitoring & Review - To protect areas of ecological significance and to ensure that environmental data is collected. To assess the performance of management actions and Policy.

The following table summarises all the actions along with responsibility, Program and indicative cost.


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Table 3 – Action Plan

ACTION PLAN: Priorities Mackay Regional Council

Priority Year of Action

Strategy Number

Initiative / Action Estimated Cost

Organisational Services Development Services Engineering & Commercial

Infrastructure Community &

Client Services

Asset

Man

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em

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Go

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ce &

Safe

ty

No

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Au

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S

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Tech

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Civ

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Civ

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Co

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C

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mu

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s &

M

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Healt

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Reg

ula

tory

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

Ongoing Ongoing COM 1.0

Continue Working Group meetings for the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management. These meetings will take place on an "as needed" basis to discuss current projects, future projects and policy review as well as provide guidance on delivering targeted water quality outcomes throughout the region

Internal Council Process

I

I I L I I I I

I

1 2017/18 COM 1.1 Continue formal discussions and reporting on the implementation of the USQMP with representatives from relevant sections of MRC


I I I L I I I I C I

Ongoing Ongoing COM 2.0 Continue communicating with Development Compliance regarding MRC’s Erosion & Sediment Control Compliance Program


C

L

C I

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

1 2017/18 COM 3.0 Communicate the contents of the USQMP to external stakeholders and the community through information session and brochures


C I L C

2 2018/19 COM 3.1 Liaise with the region’s organisations involved in water quality studies, plans or strategies to ensure that water quality management efforts are integrated for the region.


I L

INTERNAL EDUCATION

1 2017/18 EDU 1.0

Continue undertaking stormwater quality awareness programs for key MRC areas as part of on-going environmental training, including WSUD. e.g construction, maintenance and inspection staff. This can be provided as a specialist internal course, or sending staff on industry run courses. Guidelines are also available.

$10,000 I I I I L I C C I I I

2 2018/19 EDU 2.0 Continue providing training for MRC staff to undertake inspections for Erosion and Sediment Control (with particular emphasis on internal Council projects and large scale development)

$5,000 C L I C

1 2017/18 EDU 2.1 MRC to consider training internal compliance officers to the level of Certified Practitioner for Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC). This would be beneficial to those involved with auditing large scale development sites

$10,000 C C L

3 2019/20 EDU 3.0 Increase internal knowledge of fundamental corporate management systems and associated processes Internal Council

Process L C C C C I I

EXTERNAL EDUCATION

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 3.1

Continue the already well established relationships with organisations such as the Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland (SIAQ), Reef Catchments, Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), Australian Water Association (AWA) and South East Queensland (SEQ) Healthy Waterways in order to identify and maximise education opportunities. Provide feedback to SEQ Healthy Waterways with respect to MRC’s ongoing WSUD remediation and maintenance so that this may be considered in future versions of updated guidelines. This is based on actual local data rather than assumptions


I I L C

L – Leader of the Process, I – Provides Input into the Process, C – Consulted During the Process


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Strategy Number




Client Services

Asset

Man

ag

em

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Go

vern

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ce &

Safe

ty

No

rth

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Au

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S

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Tech

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Civ

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Civ

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Pla

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ing

&

Su

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Co

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C

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mu

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Healt

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Reg

ula

tory

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 3.2 Continue actively involving the community and stakeholders in the development and implementation of stormwater quality improvement projects


C L C

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 3.3 Continue to promote activities such as “Clean Up Australia” and “Great Northern Clean Up”, which have both litter reduction and stormwater quality improvement benefits


I I L C I

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 3.4 Continue to promote Waterwise initiatives, which have stormwater quality improvement benefits Internal Council

Process I I L C

3 2019/20 EDU 3.5 Identify community groups and/or residents who would be interested in helping to maintain WSUD assets, particularly those residents living adjacent to a bioretention system


L C

1 2017/18 EDU 4.0 Erect signage at strategic sites explaining the assets purpose $5,000 I L C

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 5.0 Establish early conversations with the Mackay Natural Environment Centre Nursery with regards to providing local provenance plant stock specific to planting in Mackay’s WSUD assets


I L C

2 2018/19 EDU 6.0 Inform the industry of the Water by Design suite of WSUD guidelines (via information bulletins and letters) to ensure that people involved in WSUD are aware of them. Although not specific to the Mackay region, there are still points of relevance


C L C

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 7.0 Lobby the State government through the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and other possible avenues, to have the monetary component of the Penalty Infringement Notices (PIN) reviewed


I L

C

Ongoing Ongoing EDU 8.0

Continue updating the development industry, State and Federal Government organisations and community groups as to the progress of the priority implementation projects under the voluntary mechanism for stormwater quality management. Discuss any potential new projects when they come to hand.


I

C C L I I

1 2017/18 EDU 9.0

MRC and Reef Catchments are currently developing a litter collection site for Mackay CBD traps in the Marine Debris Initiative database to provide us with the evidence to combat source pollutants. A visual sidewalk demonstration is proposed whereby the rubbish collected from the traps will be exposed on the pavement for all to see. This will be a powerful, educational demonstration.

$1,000 L C C

ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING

2 2018/19 ENV 1.0 Review the recommendations of the Gooseponds Creek CMP and implement where appropriate. Monitor the outcomes


C L

2 2018/19 ENV 1.1 Review the recommendations of the McCreadys Creek CMP and implement where appropriate. Monitor the outcomes


C L

Ongoing Ongoing ENV 2.0 Continue MRC’s initiatives for improving riparian management Internal Council

Process I L I

3

2019/20

ENV 3.0 Initiate a review of stormwater harvesting project opportunities within the Local Government area

$20,000 I C L C I



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Strategy Number




Client Services

Asset

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C

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ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING – IMPROVE DRAIN MAINTENANCE

1 2017/18 ENV 4.0 Complete the inventory of drains (including open drains) and identify the type and frequency of the drain maintenance works undertaken at each site


C C C L

1 2017/18 ENV 4.1 Include water quality management devices in the drains inventory and maintenance program to ensure that litter and sediment from the devices is removed efficiently. Currently there is a very limited record of SQIDs


C C C L

2 2018/19 ENV 4.2 Spatially identify the drains for inclusion in MRC’s GIS (MADI) system for use with aerial images, vegetation maps, Acid Sulphate Soil and location of GPT’s etc. This will be an outcome of MRC’s Floodplain Management Plan


C L C C C

Ongoing Ongoing ENV 5.0 Collaborate with the Reef Catchments as the stormwater network information is useful for their ecological mapping


L

ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING – IMPROVE COLLECTION OF GROSS POLLUTANTS FROM STORMWATER SYSTEMS

1 2017/18 ENV 6.0

Invest resources in the cleaning of stormwater gully pits (every 3 months), which accumulate gross pollutants in the dry season in preference to street sweeping as a stormwater quality improvement measure. It is recommended that pits are kept clean, particularly in the lead up to the wet season in December

$25,000/yr I I C L

1 2017/18 ENV 6.1 Identify litter hotspot areas and continue installing structural measures such as gross pollutant traps and litter socks into stormwater drainage systems in the CBD to minimise the release of gross pollutants into the Pioneer River.

$75,000 I I L I C

ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING – IMPROVE LITTER COLLECTION

2 2018/19 ENV 7.0 Ensure sufficient rubbish bins are located in places where there is a high likelihood of litter being transported into the stormwater system/waterways where persons may want to dispose of rubbish e.g. bus stops, taxi ranks etc. Also erect appropriate enforcement signage at these locations


C I L

3 2019/20 ENV 7.1 Further investigate enforcement measures for litter and waste dumping Internal Council

Process

L

ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING – IMPROVED HERBICIDE APPLICATION

2 2018/19 ENV 8.0 Improve herbicide procedures by specifying herbicides that should not be used in the vicinity of waterways


C L

3 2019/20 ENV 8.1

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries released a Code of Practice for the lawful use of physical, pesticide and biological controls in a declared fish habitat area in February 2005. The procedure for spraying should be amended to reflect of refer to this Code


C L



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Strategy Number




Client Services

Asset

Man

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Safe

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No

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C

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3

2019/20

ENV 8.2

Create a procedure for where chemicals are mixed


C L

ENVIRONMENTAL / MONITORING – MONITORING (ENVIRONMENTAL)

Ongoing Ongoing ENV 9.0

Continue to participate in regional working groups/committees involved in Integrated Health Monitoring Systems e.g. Reef Catchments Urban Think Tank, Fisheries Steering Committee, Wetland Working Group, Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership, Reef Urban Stormwater Management Improvement Group etc


L I

1 2017/18 ENV 9.1 Continue investing in water quality monitoring programs looking at selected WSUD assets in the Mackay region. This sampling is required to gauge the effectiveness of these devices in the local setting

$20,000 L I

3 2019/20 ENV 9.2 Support tertiary level research projects looking at the effectiveness of WSUD assets in the north Queensland environment.

$5,000 L I

1 2017/18 ENV 9.3 Continue baseline water quality and fish monitoring of the McCready’s Creek South Regional Wetland site

$30,000/yr for 2 years I L C I

1 2017/18 ENV 9.4 Propose that fishway monitoring take place at selected priority fishways across the region (to be identified).

$15,000 L

1 2017/18 ENV 9.5 Propose that funding be set aside for water quality monitoring of environmental incidents i.e. fish kills. $5,000 L C

2 2018/19 ENV 9.6 Propose that funding be set aside to monitor fish population diversity in some of Mackay’s priority tidal stormwater drains.

$10,000 I L I

3 2019/20 ENV 9.7 Send samples of local bioretention basin filter media to the Sydney Environmental Soils Laboratory (SESL) for analysis and seek suggestions for rectifying its current composition

$5,000 C C L I

1 2017/18 ENV 10.0 Maintain fishways that are an MRC asset $30,000/yr from 2017 onwards

L I

INTERNAL FUNDING

Ongoing Ongoing FUND 1.0 Continue to ensure funding allocated from MRC’s Natural Environment Levy is used for implementation of relevant stormwater quality improvement strategies. Examples may include waterway restoration, wetland construction, fishway construction, environmental trials etc.


I L I



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Strategy Number




Client Services

Asset

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Ongoing

Ongoing

FUND 1.1

Continue to allocate funds for stormwater quality improvement measures as a component of MRC’s Capital Drainage Improvement Works


C C L

I

1 2017/18 FUND 1.2 Ensure adequate funding is allocated to ongoing maintenance of existing and new WSUD assets. $300,000/yr from

2017 onwards I I L

GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRY FUNDING

1 2017/18 FUND 2.0

Apply to government funded groups, authorities and agencies for assistance with funding of projects where there are regional benefits from the initiatives. Utilise initiatives such as Caring for Country etc. A good platform to stay abreast of potential grant opportunities is being part of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership.


L

3 2019/20 FUND 3.0 Seek expressions of interest from the development industry to nominate a showcase project where best practice stormwater quality management is to be implemented where MRC and the developer contribute and benefit


C I L

FUNDING THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY MECHANISM FOR STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

1 2017/18 FUND 4.0 Continue expressing to the industry that MRC offers an option for stormwater quality management through MRC Policy 087 - Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management.


L I C

1 2017/18 FUND 4.1 Continue Working Group meetings as needed to discuss pilot projects for Mechanism expenditure Internal Council

Process C I C C L C C C C I

WSUD – LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

1 2017/18 WSUD 1.0 Review WSUD Development Assessment process. Provide clear guidance to developers/consultants on what WSUD systems will be approved i.e. Less maintenance intensive assets such as vegetated swales


L C C

1 2017/18 WSUD 1.1

Review the current asset management process for WSUD. Identify shortcomings, conflicts and issues (budgetary, knowledge gaps, lack of training, poor communication etc). Identify opportunities to improve the process including as improved asset handover process which should include a clearly defined outcome at the end of the establishment period, a number of hold points along the way, retention of bonds as a way of ensuring works are done to the required standard and a reduction in the bond as the hold points are successfully met.


C I L I C

1 2017/18 WSUD 1.2 Incorporate relevant Programs of MRC as early as possible throughout the development assessment process


L C C C C

Ongoing Ongoing WSUD 2.0 Incorporate WSUD into MRC’s Capital Works Projects Internal Council

Process I C L I

1 2017/18 WSUD 3.0 Review the stormwater quality management design objectives present in the SPP. Undertake research looking into what the design objectives could be changed to. Inform the State Government of MRC’s hardships in meeting these Design Objectives, at every available opportunity.

$10,000 C C L



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Strategy Number




Client Services

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WSUD – GUIDELINES

1 2018/19 WSUD 4.0

Formally adopt the suite of WSUD documents created by Water by Design and amend for use in the Mackay region. It is recommended that these guidelines be used as a fundamental basis and be updated to include additional maintenance issues for the north Queensland climate. Construct an information bulletin to alert the industry of the suite of Water by Design Guidelines.


C C L C C C

WSUD – GUIDELINES

1 2017/18 WSUD 5.0 Formally adopt and promote the Living Waterways Framework as a way of demonstrating compliance with A01.1 of the SPP Code to achieve environmental best practice management. Issue an Information Bulletin to industry and house this information on the MRC website


C C L C I

1 2017/18 WSUD 6.0

Formally adopt the WSUD plant lists for the Mackay region that have been formulated by the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Horticultural Reference Group in collaboration with local ecologists, nurseries and practitioners. Construct an information bulletin to alert the industry of this guideline and to give nurseries an indication of the vegetation varieties that will be required for these systems


C I L I

1 2017/18 WSUD 6.1 Formally adopt the Street Tree Selection List created by MRC’s Technical Services Section Internal Council

Process C I C L I

2 2018/19 WSUD 7.0 Develop a weed management plan for individual WSUD assets (particularly larger and/or high profile assets)

$3,000 L

1 2017/18 WSUD 8.0

Prepare a Position Statement stating that MRC seeks to minimise the use of proprietary stormwater devices in favour of more cost effective water quality management options that provides a better environmental outcome. Prepare an Information Bulletin and have this information housed on MRC’s website.

$3,000 I C C L I

WSUD – DATA MANAGEMENT / GIS

1 2017/18 WSUD 9.0 Conduct a proprietary device audit on private sites to ascertain whether these devices are being maintained


C C C L

1 2017/18 WSUD 10.0

Incorporate WSUD into position descriptions to ensure accountability Internal Council C C L C C

1 2017/18 WSUD 11.0

Amend MRC’s Standard Drawings so that WSUD assets facilitate adequate maintenance access Internal Council

Process C C C L C

2 2018/19 WSUD 12.0

Place all WSUD guidelines (including FAWB guidelines) on the MRC internal intranet site and internet site


C I L C

1 2017/18 WSUD 13.0

Update MRC’s Rapid Asset Assessment (RAA) Matrix for WSUD assets to encapsulate new assets that have recently been taken over by MRC and also to see if levels of service / time spent maintaining each asset needs to change based on priority


L



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Strategy Number




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Ongoing

Ongoing

WSUD 14.0

Maintenance cost assumptions for WSUD assets are questionable given the fact that little information exists and is often sourced from locations not relevant to Mackay. It is recommended that MRC “learn by doing”. In other words, record costings associated with this work so that a detailed maintenance cost register specific to the Mackay region can be built. If maintenance activities are subcontracted to external parties, it is imperative that these external parties create a detailed register of localised maintenance costs also


C I L I

C



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10. Funding

This Plan identifies a range of priority actions which need to occur over the next 3 years. Implementation of priority actions as identified in the Action Plan (Table 3) have been broken down by financial year and methods of proposed expenditure. This is listed below in Table 4:

Table 4: Priority actions and budget breakdown as identified in the Action Plan

Breakdown ($)

Year Number of

Actions Total ($) Maintenance

MRC Capacity Building Training

Investment in Best Practice

Initiatives Monitoring Education

2017/18 47 (33) 539,000 355,000 20,000 78,000 70,000 16,000

2018/19 32 (25) 403,000 355,000 5,000 - 40,000 3,000

2019/20 28 (22) 385,000 355,000 - 25,000 - 5,000

Note: $300,000 per year each year is allocated to the maintenance of WSUD assets. Number in brackets denotes an Internal Council Process where funding is not required.

The funding strategy comprises initiatives for funding activities associated with the USQMP. The objectives, rationale and actions have been divided into the following three categories:

• Internal Funding • Government and Industry Funding • Funding through the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management

10.1 Internal Funding

Objective

To obtain funding for stormwater quality improvement projects from MRC’s internal sources.

Rationale

MRC has a Natural Environment Levy as part of its rates basis. This Levy is in place to fund relevant environmental initiatives. Recommendations for the funding of projects from this levy are discussed with MRC’s Natural Environment Advisory Committee, which is comprised of Councillors, MRC Staff, stakeholder groups and community representatives. Recommendations from the committee are forwarded to MRC for consideration.

In 2014/15, a decision was made to allocate $300,000 per year to maintain on-site WSUD systems. Internal maintenance responsibility was also defined at this time. This budget was sourced from excess reserve funds in the Natural Environment Levy. Prior to the maintenance budget becoming established, zero maintenance was being undertaken with many systems quickly becoming weed infested, yielding public complaint and required full scale rectification which was at least 10 times the cost of ongoing planned maintenance activities. The use of Natural Environment Levy funds for the purpose of maintaining WSUD systems was seen as a temporary funding solution before a more appropriate funding source could be established.

In 2016/17 the funding arrangement was altered. The Natural Environment Levy was reduced by 20% and reserve funds have been exhausted. $200,000 per year is currently being sourced from the Natural Environment Levy and $100,000 per year is currently being sourced from Parks Environment and Sustainability Capital expenditure. Determination of


Page | 37

which actions will be progressed in each year and budgetary allocations will be determined through the annual budget process. Funding allocations and sources for 2017/18 and beyond will be considered as part of annual budgetary process.

10.2 Government & Industry Funding

Objective

To obtain funding from State and/or Federal Government or industry groups for stormwater quality improvement projects where mutual benefits can be achieved.

Rationale

Various government Agencies, Departments and groups such as the Australian and State Governments and Regional NRM bodies such as Reef Catchments provide opportunities to receive funding that would assist implementation of stormwater quality improvement measures. Voluntary developer stormwater contributions administered through the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management are another source of funding to implement regional projects that attribute to broader and more favourable stormwater quality outcomes.

In particular, strategies from the USQMP that have regional benefits and may attract funding include:

• Water quality and fish monitoring programs • Regional water quality pilot projects • Retrofitting existing stormwater infrastructure in the city to remove urban pollutants

as a demonstration project with educational and water quality benefits; and • Stormwater quality education and awareness programs.

Industry bodies may also assist in funding by providing price reductions for use of their

equipment if mutual benefits can be obtained.

Actions

• Apply to Government funded groups, authorities and agencies for assistance with funding of projects where there are regional benefits from the initiatives. Utilise initiatives such as Caring for Country etc. A good platform to stay abreast of potential grant opportunities is being part of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership.

• Seek expressions of interest from the development industry to nominate a showcase project where best practice stormwater quality management is to be implemented and Council and the developer contribute and benefit

10.3 Funding through the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management

Objective

To obtain funding for regional stormwater pilot projects via developers opting into MRC

Policy 087 – Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management.

Rationale

The Mechanism has been developed to improve the efficiencies of a development’s stormwater management requirements through cost effective solutions. The Mechanism is viewed as a locally appropriate and innovative approach that reflects the objectives of the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016.


Page | 38

The SPP places a strong emphasis on finding locally and regionally relevant solutions whilst outlining the outcomes needed to achieve the State interests, and enabling local government to determine the best way to do this for its community.

The mechanism has been established due to difficulties MRC are currently experiencing in achieving post-construction phase Design Objectives via the implementation of WSUD assets.

Actions

• Continue expressing to the industry that MRC offers an option for stormwater quality management through MRC Policy 087 - Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management

• Continue Working Group meetings as needed to discuss pilot projects for Mechanism expenditure

11. Conclusions and Recommendations

Being the custodian of waterways in the region and that stormwater assets are designed to protect waterways and alleviate stormwater runoff from urban environments, there is a requirement for MRC to implement a more sustainable approach to manage water resources that are of vital importance to the community, economy and the health of the region’s waterways. Currently, a large portion of urban stormwater runoff, is dispersed to local rivers and creeks without treatment. This has the potential to adversely impact flora and fauna residing within our local waterways, and ultimately, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) which is of national and international significance.

The Objectives, Strategies and Actions section of this Plan, details the necessary requirements MRC Departments and Programs will need to undertake to ensure the successful implementation of this Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan. It also identifies stormwater related projects that need to be improved or investigated and highlights preferred approach to urban stormwater quality management moving forward.

Implementation of the following strategies is recommended to improve stormwater quality management in the Mackay region:

• Planning & Implementation – To successfully plan for and maintain MRC’s existing WSUD assets and to recommend other solutions that satisfy SPP requirements moving forward.

• Communication - To ensure that appropriate communication and integration occurs between MRC and other Natural Resource Management (NRM) Groups, Agencies and Departments.

• Education – To ensure that education and awareness of stormwater quality issues are improved.

• Funding – To ensure that adequate funding for implementation of the Plan is obtained from sources within MRC, from State and Federal Government and from developer contributions though the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management.

• Monitoring & Review - To protect areas of ecological significance and to ensure that environmental data is collected. To assess the performance of management actions and Policy.


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12. Bibliography

AUSTROADS (2003). Guidelines for the Treatment of Stormwater Runoff from the Road

Infrastructure. Austroads Publication No. AP-R232/03. Prepared by Parsons

Brinckerhoff & Ecological Engineering Pty Ltd.

Brisbane City Council (2000). Urban Management Division Subdivision and Development

Guidelines, Part B Design Requirements & Part C Water Quality Management

Guidelines.

Brisbane City Council (2003). Water Sensitive Road Design Practice Note (Draft). Revision

6, 25 June 2003.

Brodie J. (2003). Mackay Whitsunday Region: State of the Waterways Report (Draft).

Prepared for the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group as part

of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthy Waterways Program.

Cairns City Council (2003). Draft CairnsPlan.

City Design, Brisbane City Council (2003). Gladstone Harbour Protection and Enhancement

Strategy - Stormwater Runoff Module. Prepared for prepared on behalf of the

Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Commonwealth Department of the Environment & Heritage (2002). Introduction to Urban

Stormwater Management in Australia. Prepared under the Urban Stormwater

Initiative of the Living Cities Program.

Dalrymple B. et al. (2013). Building Local Government Capacity to Implement Water

Sensitive Urban Design – Moreton Bay Regional Councils Strategy. Reaching out to

the Regions – SIAQ Conference, Townsville, 2013.

Department of Environment and Resource Management (2010). Urban Stormwater Quality

Planning Guidelines 2010

Department of Local Government and Planning (2012). Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday

Regional Plan

Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport & Recreation (2004) IPA Infrastructure

Guideline 1/04 Priority Infrastructure Plans Incorporating PIP Template 1.

Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport & Recreation (2004) IPA Infrastructure

Guideline 2/04 Infrastructure Charges Schedules.

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (2014). State Planning Policy

DesignFlow (2009). Mackay Stormwater Quality Management Plan Update; Stage 1:

Scoping Document Final. Prepared for Mackay Regional Council

Drewry J. et al. (2008). Water Quality Improvement Plan; Final report for the Mackay

Whitsunday region. Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group.

Duke N. et al. (2003) Mackay Mangrove Dieback, Investigations in 2002 with

Recommendations for Further Research, Monitoring and Management. Prepared

Report to the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Northern Fisheries

Centre and the Community of Mackay Region.

EDAW (2008). Dry Tropics WSUD: Wetland and Bioretention Design Options Discussion

Paper. Prepared for Creek to Coral.


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Engineers Australia (2003) Australian Runoff Quality (Draft available at

http://www.ieaust.org.au/./about_us/natcomm/water/index.html)

Environment North (2000) WHAM 2015 Environment and Natural Resources Primary

Element Paper, Prepared for Department of Communication, Information, Local

Government, Planning and Sport

Environmental Protection Agency (2001). Model urban stormwater quality management

plans and guidelines; Prepared to assist local governments meet their obligations

under the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997. Environmental Operations

Division of the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

FAWB (2009). Adoption Guidelines for Stormwater Biofiltration Systems, Facility for

Advanced Water Biofiltration, Monash University.

GHD Pty Ltd (2003). Total Management Plan for Catchments and Waterways Volume 1 –

Main Report, Volume 2 - Appendices. Prepared for Gold Coast City Council.

GHD Pty Ltd (2006). Stormwater Quality Management Plan for Mackay - Report. Prepared

for Mackay City Council

Gold Coast City Council (2003) Stormwater Quality Management Guidelines Planning

Scheme Policy. Prepared by the Environmental Assessment Section Statutory

Planning Branch of Gold Coast City Council.

HLA-Envirosciences Pty Ltd (2003 & 2004). MCC Former and Existing Waste Management

Facilities Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring Report. Prepared for Mackay City

Council.

Mackay Regional Council (2013). Mackay Region Planning Scheme: Draft for Public

Consultation

Marsden T., et al (2003) Rehabilitation of Freshwater Drains Project (Restoration of

Freshwater Drainage Channels to Provide Stream Habitat for Juvenile Barramundi

Project)NHT Project No. 2002107 Final Project Report. Prepared by the Queensland

Fisheries Service of the Department of Primary Industries.

O2 Environment + Engineering (2012). Best Practice Guidelines for Controlling Stormwater

Pollution from Building Sites

Rainforest CRC and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems (May 2004). Mackay Whitsundays: A

Natural Resource Management Regional Plan, Volume 2 Resource Condition

Reports (Draft). Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and

Management. Rainforest CRC, Cairns.

Rainforest CRC and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems (May 2004). Preliminary Targets for

the Mackay Whitsundays: NRM Plan: Goals, Condition Targets and Potential

Management Actions (Work in Progress Draft). Cooperative Research Centre for

Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management. Rainforest CRC, Cairns.

Sinclair Knight Merz (2000). Mackay Stormwater Quality Management Strategy Scoping

Study Project Report Final. Prepared for Mackay City Council.

South Australia Department of Transport and Urban Planning (2002) Guidelines for Urban

Stormwater Management, August 2002. Produced by Patawalonga Catchment

Water Management Board Torrens Catchment Water Management Board


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Susan Cooper & Associates & Ecograph (2001) Natural Environment Plan for Mackay City

Council.

The State of Queensland and Commonwealth of Australia (2003), Reef Water Quality

Protection Plan; for catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage

Area. Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, Brisbane.

Townsville City Council (2002). Development Design Specification D5, Stormwater

Drainage, .

Townsville City Council (2003). Development Design Specification D7, Erosion Control and

Stormwater Management.

Water by Design (2006). Strategy for Water Sensitive Urban Design in SEQ. Final Report to

the Department of Environment and Heritage.

Water by Design (2009). Concept Design Guidelines for Water Sensitive Urban Design

(Version 1). South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership, Brisbane.

Water by Design (2010). A Business Case for Best Practice Urban Stormwater Management

(Version 1.1) South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership, Brisbane,

Queensland

Water by Design (2010). Construction and Establishment Guidelines: Swales, Bioretention

Systems and Wetlands (Version 1.1). South East Queensland Healthy Waterways

Partnership, Brisbane.

Water by Design (2012). Maintaining Vegetated Stormwater Asset (Version 1). Healthy

Waterways Ltd, Brisbane.

Water by Design (2012). Rectifying Vegetated Stormwater Assets. Healthy Waterways Ltd,

Brisbane

Water by Design (2010). Total Water Cycle Management Planning Guidelines for South East

Queensland (Version 1.1, December 2010). Department of Environment and

Resource Management, Brisbane, Queensland.

Water by Design (2012). Transferring Ownership of Vegetated Stormwater Assets (Version

1). Healthy Waterways Ltd, Brisbane.

WBM Oceanics Australia (2003). Stormwater Treatment Framework and Stormwater Quality

Improvement Device Guidelines. Prepared for Lake Macquarie City Council.

WetlandCare Australia (2008). Wetland Rehabilitation Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef

catchment. Compiled for the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the

Arts.

Witheridge (2010). Erosion and Sediment Control – A Field Guide for Construction Site

Managers, Catchments and Creeks Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland.


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13. Appendix A: Acronyms

Acronyms

ANZECC Australian & New Zealand Environment & Conservation Council

AWA Australian Water Association

CBD Central Business District

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CO Civil Operations

CMP Catchment Management Plan

CPESC Certified Practitioner for Erosion & Sediment Control

DAF Department of Agriculture & Fisheries

DEHP Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

DPI Department of Primary Industries

DTMR Department of Transport & Main Roads

EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1994

EPP (Water) Environmental Protection Policy (Water)

ESC Erosion & Sediment Control

ESCCP Erosion & Sediment Control Compliance Program

EV’s Environmental Value(s)

FAWB Facility for Advanced Water Biofiltration

GED General Environmental Duty

GBR Great Barrier Reef

GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

GPT Gross Pollutant Trap

MADI Mapping And Data Information

MRC Mackay Regional Council

MUSIC Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation

NRM Natural Resource Management

PES Parks, Environment & Sustainability

RAA Rapid Asset Assessment

SEQ South East Queensland

SESL Sydney Environmental Soils Laboratory

SIGNAL Stream Invertebrate Grade Number Average Level

SLPT Strategy Leadership & Performance Team


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Acronyms

SQID Stormwater Quality Improvement Device

SPA Sustainable Planning Act

SPP State Planning Policy

SWQ Stormwater Quality

SWQMP Stormwater Quality Management Plan

TN Total Nitrogen

TP Total Phosphorus

TSS Total Suspended Solids

UDIA Urban Development Institute of Australia

USQMP Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan

VMA Vegetation Management Act 1999

WHMP Waterway Health Monitoring Program

WQ Water Quality

WQO Water Quality Objective

WSUD Water Sensitive Urban Design


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14. Appendix B: Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management Implementation Projects

MRC has established a Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management. It has been developed to improve the efficiencies of a development’s stormwater management requirements through cost effective solutions. The mechanism is viewed as a locally appropriate and innovative approach that reflects the objectives of the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2016. Council’s priority implementation projects under the mechanism are detailed below: Little McCreadys Creek Rehabilitation Project MRC and Mackay’s local Natural Resource Management body, Reef Catchments, have worked on a collaborative project remediating a section of Little McCreadys Creek, Rural View. Little McCreadys Creek has been chosen as a site suitable for developing and showcasing best practice methods for improving stormwater quality, rehabilitating waterways, enhancing aquatic habitat and improving ecological corridors.

Little McCreadys Creek and the adjoining open space have been substantially altered but retain many environmental values including native fauna, fish, frogs and vegetation. Ecological surveys undertaken as part of the project have suggested that poor water quality and lack of habitat is limiting species abundance and diversity. The creek and adjoining parklands are highly valued and regularly used by the community for passive and active recreation. Stormwater modelling shows that improvements in water quality can be made by introducing more riparian and wetland vegetation. The project site comprises approximately 720 metres of Little McCreadys Creek at Rural View running north-west from Bucasia-Mackay Road to Dawson Boulevard. The creek has been heavily modified and straightened, with the current trapezoidal shape created to ensure efficient runoff. The surrounding catchment is progressively transitioning from rural to urban residential and was historically used for cane farming. The creek line itself has patches of instability, mainly as isolated bed and bank scour. Macroinvertebrate sampling has shown the creek as having generally low species diversity at all sampling locations and a lack of pollution tolerant species. Stream Invertebrate Grade Number Average Level (SIGNAL) scores were less than four at all sites, corresponding with a water quality rating of poor.

Project aims included:

• Improve and treat water quality runoff from built up urban areas and improve the

quality of water flowing into estuarine and Great Barrier Reef habitats.

• Increase the amount of habitat available for biodiversity including the provision for

fish passage.

• Local costed out example of naturalised/vegetated waterway versus mown swales in

the provision of water quality and ecosystem services, as well as ongoing

maintenance and operational costs.

• Improved visual amenity of the local area, and opportunities to engage with the

community.


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• Re-establish riparian vegetation and ecosystem service values in the McCreadys

Creek catchment, including channel stability.

• Increased coordination between terrestrial and aquatic land managers and improve

the knowledge of local government to better manage naturalised waterways that

drain urban areas.

It is an important pilot project and the outcomes will inform future planning and drainage options in Mackay. The project has been funded by developer stormwater contributions and Reef Catchments’ ‘System Repair’ funding through the Australian Government Reef Programme. The project will substantially improve the ecological condition and water quality of Little McCreadys Creek while improving public amenity. McCreadys Creek South Regional Wetlands Through a series of internal workshops hosted in 2011 and 2012, MRC officers from various Programs decided it would be more appropriate to manage water quality on a regional level rather than on an individual development (on-site) application level and a regional wetland approach for greenfield areas was adopted.

The McCreadys Creek South regional wetlands form part of this regional approach to urban stormwater quality management.

In this case, large regional wetlands of a size commensurate to meet the full SPP Total Suspended Solids (TSS) objective are strategically located in lower lying areas of the catchment, adjacent to or integrated with waterways. This approach is then used in conjunction with naturalised/vegetated waterways which are incorporated into upstream drainage corridors. This approach has a number of advantages:

• Reduced loss of developable land i.e. developers can develop more land and thus increase profits. The increase in land sales will likely pay for contribution to regional systems.

• WSUD assets are designed and built under MRC control. This provides MRC with more control over the implementation and ultimately on-going management of assets related to the SPP. This also reduces the risk that MRC will take ownership of poorly functioning assets that will become a costly maintenance burden.

• Less distributed number of assets to manage, easing pressures on MRC resources.

• Potentially a more cost effective implementation method, whereby wetlands can be located in existing flood plain zones or natural wetland areas where earthworks requirements are minimal and development cannot occur. This can potentially provide greater environmental outcomes with a more cost effective use of funds.

• A regional approach allows a more strategic method of implementation to achieve greater water quality benefits to the GBR.

• Proximity to community open space has significant effect on property value in the neighbourhood. In addition, the access to quality open space is one of many attributes valued by residents and improves the life quality of complete communities.

Water quality and fish monitoring is currently being undertaken to gauge current condition of the location so that quantifiable improvements may be seen once the project has been implemented.


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Improved on-farm soil and nutrient management practices MRC and Reef Catchments have partnered in a project to partly offset urban pollutant discharges against improvements in management of neighbouring sugarcane farms.

It is a two year project and engages with 1 x 150ha cane farm operator in the Bakers Creek catchment. It focuses on shifting a ‘C – Conventional’ class management practice for soil and nutrient management, to an ‘A – Aspirational’ class practice.

Improving on-farm soil and nutrient management practices as part of the Mechanism has been found to represent a very cost effective approach for Council. The cost or removing 1kg of sediment from a farm via the improvement in these practices is valued at $1.50 - $4.00/kg compared to roughly $20/kg in a regional wetland.

An economic analysis of the cost to adopt ‘A’ class practices on model farms in the Mackay Whitsunday region was undertaken in 2011 as part of the Project Catalyst initiative. This economic analysis highlighted that irrespective of property size, once landholders had adopted ‘A’ class practices, they were more profitable and economically viable. This indicates that landholders are very unlikely to revert back to the old practice once they have made the transition to the new ‘A’ class practice.

This project received significant support from MRC and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA). Essentially this approach was seen to prevent large quantities of pollutants from entering our waterways, for significantly less cost than the WSUD approach and in the land-use perceived as being the highest contributor of pollutants – farming.

Revegetation of Gooseponds Creek The Gooseponds are a series of man-made water bodies surrounded by urban areas and parkland. The area is what would be classed as heavily modified, but remains a very popular recreation area for the residents of Mackay with a network of pathways, exercise equipment, play grounds and other park amenities situated in and around the area. A number of pressures impact directly upon the Gooseponds. These include invasive flora and fauna species, barriers to fish passage and agricultural/urban runoff resulting in variable water quality.

The riparian strip is narrow and also heavily degraded/modified. The Gooseponds Creek revegetation project remediated an 800m long section of creek and reinstated a riparian buffer strip up to 15m in width. This riparian corridor will allow for increased filtration of pollutants, biodiversity and bank stabilization whilst shading out invasive weed species and decreasing future maintenance costs.

Stormwater Education MRC installed two educative signs at WSUD devices at Blacks Beach Cove (constructed wetland) and Royal Sands development (bioretention system) so that the community may understand that those devices are there to improve downstream water quality. There are other WSUD assets in the Mackay region that would also benefit from the installation of educational signage.Additional Erosion & Sediment Control (ESC) education has taken place with the development industry, largely revolving around large scale development sites.

Education, particularly regarding ESC management has been seen as significant bang for buck as the vast proportion of sediment is lost from site during the construction phase of development.


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15. Appendix C: Recently Completed Council Initiatives

MRC are committed to delivering best practice stormwater quality management within its own operations. Stormwater quality management infrastructure is relatively new to MRC and has required some time to understand who is responsible for design, delivery and management and to ensure funding is allocated for the works.

The following sections briefly outline some of the recent initiatives that have been and are being delivered by Council.

Capital Works MRC are looking to include stormwater quality management in its own Capital Works projects. For example a large wetland system is proposed as part of the Botanic Gardens redesign. Where the business case for delivering stormwater quality infrastructure as part of other Capital Works is good, then MRC will continue with the approach.

Natural Environmental Levy Council has a Natural Environment Levy as part of its rates basis. This Levy is in place to fund environmental initiatives. Recommendations for the funding of projects from this Levy are determined by MRC staff based on a comprehensive analysis and prioritisation system. Projects are discussed with Council’s Natural Environment Advisory Committee, which is comprised of Councillors, MRC staff, stakeholder groups and community representatives. Recommendations from the committee are forwarded to MRC for consideration. Money from this levy has currently been budgeted to:

• Construct gross pollutant traps

• Undertake fish and water quality monitoring

• Build and maintain fishways

• Maintain stormwater quality management assets

Catchment Management Plans Catchment Management Plans (CMPs) assist with the provision of adequate stormwater quality measures for existing water quality issues, identify flood prone areas, and identify measures to protect fauna and flora in the catchment. The previous SWQMP identified sixteen (16) urban waterways in Mackay where CMPs were to be developed. The McCready’s Creek Catchment Management Plan was the first CMP to be completed in April 2005 and can be viewed at: http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/12978/Draft_McCreadys_Ck_CMP_April_2005_low_res.pdf The Gooseponds Creek CMP was completed in January 2010, but currently only exists in draft form and was not formallyy adopted by MRC. Lagoons Creek CMP is currently underway. Developing CMP’s was an intensive and laborious outlay. In-house development took at least 12 months to compile (per plan) and if outsourced, the costs of such Plans were considerable. They were a large cost to MRC and the end products were never formally adopted. Apart from the exception of a few GPT’s which carried forward into Capital Works forecasting, the rest of the recommendations have not been implemented.


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MRC has decided to stop producing CMPs in the future as they are resource intensive and recommendations for the most part, will not be adopted. The work currently being undertaken in various studies such as the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management and the Flood and Stormwater Strategy give a better understanding and appreciation of specific water quality related projects that should be holistically delivered across the region. The existing working group assembled for these studies will guide the implementation of waterway health related projects into the future.

Gross Pollutant Trap Management Gross Pollutant Traps (GPT’s) have been installed at four stormwater drain sites in Ooralea as part of Council's commitment to marine debris prevention. 28 trash racks (57 GPT’s of differing description exist throughout the region) capture debris, and reduce pollution entering our waterways. This project was funded in the 2012/13 financial year, through the Natural Environment Levy.

In December 2015, a further 41 gully pit littler baskets were installed in the CBD. This project was a joint initiative of MRC and Reef Catchments, through Funding from the Australian Government Reef Programme. MRC and Reef Catchments are currently developing a litter collection site for Mackay CBD traps in the Marine Debris Initiative database (http://www.tangaroablue.org/database.html), to provide us with the evidence to combat source pollutants.

MRC installed another 60 gully pit litter baskets in September, 2016 and was made possible thanks to external funding.

Refer to Appendix for further details. Naturalised Channels MRC has undertaken a study to understand the total lifecycle costs and maintenance requirements of different channel designs (natural, vegetated and traditional) in the Mackay region. Consistent with work around Australia, stormwater quality studies have identified the benefits of natural channels to reduce sediment, nutrient and toxicants, along with improved amenity.

The principle of naturalised channel design was discussed with, and supported by, key internal stakeholders at an internal workshop on 23 August 2012. Stormwater quality studies have identified the benefits of natural channels. One, to improve amenity and aesthetics but another being that inline water quality treatment within a drainage corridor will minimise the foot-print of downstream regional wetland options. Several local developments have included naturalised channel design in applications submitted to Council (Glenrowan Estate, Beaconsfield Heights etc). MRC have completed standard drawings to illustrate this design concept. This principle will not replace traditional channel design (Mackay Standard Drainage Drawing A3-868C) but will co-exist and be utilised as an option where community and environmental benefits are apparent from the implementation of this planning decision. A study was completed to provide a detailed understanding of life cycle costs associated with traditional channel design and more natural channel designs so as to determine whether the naturalised approach was a feasible option for MRC. It was found that a naturalised waterway, over time would have a significantly lower maintenance burden for MRC than traditional drains which would have to be mown forever. It was recommended that MRC undertake a naturalised waterway trial, to gauge true and actual costs in a local setting before applying the waterway section widespread across the Mackay region.


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MRC took on this recommendation, partnered with Reef Catchments and delivered a Design and Construct project. The project site comprises approximately 720 metres of Little McCreadys Creek at Rural View running north-west from Bucasia-Mackay Road to Dawson Boulevard. The creek had been heavily modified, straightened and had lost nearly all of it’s habitat values.

The image below shows the project site partway through the construction phase. The project has now been planted out. It is now being maintained by contractors and is receiving a moderate to high level of service with regards to maintenance.

Figure 7: Little McCreadys Creek Rehabilitation Project partway through construction

Maintenance Ownership and Agreement

Aside from the primary function of water treatment, the maintenance of any constructed asset needs to be one of MRC’s highest priorities. Without effective maintenance, an asset can quickly depreciate, lose its ability to function effectively and/or become a detriment to the surrounding environment. They will also yield public complaint.

An inadequate maintenance regime will result in WSUD assets becoming sediment and weed traps, areas for accumulation of nutrients, heavy metals and/or pests. Furthermore, silting up will decrease the volume of water a wetland can hold/treat, smother desirable plants and block filter media.

Discussions between Program Managers for Parks, Environment & Sustainability, Civil Operations and their respective Directors took place on 6 November, 2013. The core focus of these discussions was to determine asset ownership and maintenance responsibilities as


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they were previously unclear resulting in minimal on-ground maintenance. Outcomes of the discussions were as follows:

Gross Pollutant Traps

• Gross Pollutant Traps (gully pit baskets, pipe outlet nets, pipe inlet bars etc.) – Civil Operations responsible for maintenance.

Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices • Detention Basins – shared maintenance responsibility currently exists between

Parks, Environment & Sustainability and Civil Operations. • Bioretention Basins – Parks, Environment and Sustainability responsible for

maintenance. Civil Operations to provide resources as required for major refurbishments e.g. silt removal

• Constructed Wetlands – Parks, Environment & Sustainability responsible for maintenance. Civil Operations to provide resources as required for major refurbishments e.g. silt removal.

Drainage within Parks/Recreation Facility • Civil Operations responsible for maintenance of trunk infrastructure including open

drains and underground systems. Parks, Environment and Sustainability responsible for drainage specific for the Park/Recreation Facility.

• Shared mowing arrangements as currently exists.

Road Verges Mowing • Rural roads – Civil Operations responsible • Urban Roads – Shared maintenance responsibility. Existing arrangements to

continue with Parks, Environment and Sustainability undertaking mowing. On “Main Roads” roads, existing sharing of costs to continue where MRC is providing a higher level of service than the Department of Transport & Main Roads (DTMR) is prepared to fund.

Lakes & Vegetated/Naturalised Waterways • Ownership and maintenance of ’lakes’ and ‘naturalised waterways’ were not

discussed at the time the above decisions were made, however conversations held at a later date confirmed that maintenance of naturalised waterways would be the responsibility of Parks, Environment and Sustainability.

Maintenance Work and Cost MRC currently own 3 constructed wetlands, 19 bioretention basins, 32 bioretention pods, 6 vegetated swales, 4 lakes, 1 naturalised waterway and 115 Gross Pollutant Traps (GPT’s). Given the issues with weeds during the wet season, monthly maintenance occurs on the bioretention basins and constructed wetlands. Increased planting densities should also be utilised so that less bare earth is exposed for weeds to establish. This is costly, but it is what it required in order to keep on top of its local weed suite that thrive in these shallow, warm, nutrient-rich environments. If MRC undertook maintenance activities at say 3 monthly intervals during summer (as indicated by various guidelines) these systems would become quickly overrun with weeds and would be a maintenance issue.

Contractors have been maintaining MRC’s WSUD assets as per a suggested monthly maintenance regime, since late 2014. Maintenance overviews are submitted to MRC each month with a detailed report submitted to MRC each quarter. These quarterly maintenance reports identify the type of system (bioretention basin, bioretention pod, bioretention swale or


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constructed wetland), number of systems, labour/tasks undertaken, dedicated hours, amount of chemical used and offcourse the cost.

These reports are proving to be very useful in gauging the true and actual cost of maintaining WSUD assets in Mackay, which suggest to be expensive. For example, the quarter spanning July – September 2015, associated costs were:

• 207 hours maintaining 34 bioretention basins which cost MRCl $14,490

• 72 hours maintaining 6 vegetated swales and 22 biopods which cost MRC $5,024

• 91 hours maintaining 3 constructed wetlands which cost MRC $6,370

In summary during this quarter, 370 hours were spent maintaining 43 WSUD assets at a cost of $25,884. Assuming a consistent maintenance regime was applied throughout the course of the year, MRC would be required to pay over $100,000 per year to maintain its current vegetated stormwater assets.

However, 4 further things are worth mentioning and need to be taken into consideration:

1) July to September are reasonably dry months. Maintenance occurring during wetter months of the year will incur a more intensive regime particularly with regards to weeds.

2) These assets are only the higher priority WSUD assets. There are lower priority WSUD assets that are currently receiving only minimal maintenance. These are low profile assets usually situated in out of sight locations or discharge to a poorer quality receiving environment

3) MRC has taken ownership of another 132 WSUD assets (10 biopods, 4 bioretention basins and 1 naturalised channel) since the July – September quarterly maintenance report. Therefore the hours and dollars spent each quarter will increase accordingly.

4) There are more WSUD assets currently on-maintenance with the Developer that MRC will soon own and will have the responsibility to maintain

These 4 points indicate that $300,000 per year is what is required to maintain MRC’s WSUD assets. An internal team of 3 staff (rather than utilising contractors) should be considered.

Rectification – Case Study A series of 10 biopods were constructed as part of streetscape bioretention network at a Mackay development site. There were fundamental design flaws associated with them, none more significant that the “filter media” that was used. Essentially, this filter media was beach sand. Nothing could live in it as it had no water holding capacity. Secondly, the holes in the coarse sediment forebay walls were very small, prone to blockage and did not let adequate water into the basin. The images below show plants to be healthier when they were situated closer to where the water entered the basin and that they had perished at the extremities of the basin where water did not reach. Soon after these images were taken, all the plants perished and the basins quickly became overrun with weeds.

In December 2015, MRC staff and Green Army participants remediated these 10 biopods. The total combined area of the 10 biopods amounted to 571m2 (smallest being 30m2 and the largest being 80m2). Council has always taken the advice that bioretention rectification costs something in the vicinity of $50/m2. This dollar figure was reflective of only 50% of the true and actual cost to rectify these basins ($103/m2 when considering labour). The work included:

• Commissioning a contractor to remove the top 300mm of material from each basin and dispose


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• In each basin, the contractor replaced this 300mm of material with 200mm of good quality filter media, followed by 100mm of rock on top to act as a weed suppressant.

• Commissioning roughly 36 people, over 3 days to plant out the basins • Commissioning the contractor to knock out the walls of the coarse sediment forebays

It is also worth noting that only the top 200mm of filter media was replaced because the plants planted were shallow rooted grasses and it was assumed the roots would not go much deeper than this. Below this 200mm, the beach sand remains. If we replaced the entire 700mm-800mm depth of filter media, this cost would have been significantly higher. Plants were also provided in-kind from the MNEC Nursery.

Figure 8 & 9: Biopod planting activity conducted by Green Army participants

Rapid Asset Assessment MRC has developed a stormwater management Rapid Asset Assessment (RAA) to schedule maintenance priorities for these assets. Risk weightings reflective of asset size, location, receiving environment and public view are used to prioritise maintenance importance and the maintenance effort (and ultimately funding requirement).

Mackay Trash Rack Cleaning and Maintenance Project Gross Pollutant Traps (GPT’s) have been installed at four stormwater drain sites in Ooralea as part of MRC's commitment to marine debris prevention. 28 trash racks (115 GPT’s of differing description exist throughout the region) capture debris, and reduce pollution entering our waterways. This project was funded in the 2012/13 financial year, through the Natural Environment Levy. As part of this project, funding was allocated in 2013/14 to maintain and monitor the GPTs, including cleaning and maintaining the trash rack systems and analysing the content of the debris collected. Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. was contracted to provide this service in 2013/14, and was extended to deliver this service again in the 2014/15 financial year. The data collected has been used to (and will continue to be used to) identify common pollutants, compare pollutant loads with surrounding land uses, and identify point sources of pollution to inform future reduction activities.

Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. is a not-for-profit environmental organisation established to protect marine life and aquatic environments by removing existing marine debris and reducing the amount of debris that enters our waterways. This is achieved by providing opportunities for the community to collect marine debris from beaches and coastal areas,


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undertaking education and awareness regarding marine debris and promoting the importance of correct waste disposal.

As a Reef Guardian Council, MRC has an important role in planning for sustainable population growth and approving environmentally sound developments. MRC recognises its role in helping to improve land based management practices and how these actions will help protect local waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.

The most commonly collected items from the trash racks in the Mackay region are:

1. Vegetative waste 2. Foam (packaging, installation, but primarily builders foam) 3. Plastic food packaging 4. Plastic bags/remnants 5. Foils 6. Cigarette butts 7. Bottle tops and lids 8. Aluminum cans 9. Hard plastics 10. Tobacco packaging 11. Plastic drink bottles.

Figure 10 - Before and after clean-up image showing the effectiveness of a GPT in Ooralea.

Gully Pit Gross Pollutant Traps in the Central Business District (CBD) An external contractor Cleanwater Constructions is being used to maintain MRC’s gully pit GPT’s that have been installed in the CBD. At a maintenance cost of $30 per unit per visit, this represents a very cost effective way for MRC to meet its stormwater obligations. These gully pits reduce the amount of gross pollutants (including coarse sediment and vegetative matter) entering the Pioneer River via the CBD.

Cleanwater Constructions also provide MRC with a summary service report detailing waste constituents from each trap, the amount of waste in each trap as well as the traps location. Example information from a service report undertaken on the 7th of April 2014 is presented below. A total of 10 gully pit traps were serviced. In total, 0.88m3 of waste was collected with exactly half of this waste source coming from organics (including grass clippings).


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Interestingly, only 21% of the total waste was general gross pollutant (paper/plastic packaging, aluminium cans, plastic bottles etc).

Figure 11 - Pit 8 GPT (located in Sydney Street) contents from maintenance inspection dated 7 April, 2014

Figure 12 - Pit 4 GPT (located in Sydney Street) contents from maintenance inspection dated 7 April, 2014.


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Figure 13 - Total pollutant weight and composition from 10 GPT’s serviced on 7 April, 2014.

In December 2015, a further 41 gully pit littler baskets were installed in the CBD. This project was a joint initiative of MRC and Reef Catchments, through funding from the Australian Government Reef Programme. MRC and Reef Catchments are currently developing a litter collection site for Mackay CBD traps in the Marine Debris Initiative database to provide us with the evidence to combat source pollutants. A further 60 gully pit litter baskets were installed in September 2016.


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16. Appendix D: MRC’s WSUD Assets (as at November 2016)

Asset Type Development Location

Bioretention Basin Blacks Beach Cove Werri Street

Bioretention Basin Premier Gardens Bjelke Circuit

Bioretention Basin Miraflores Primavera Boulevard

Bioretention Basin Race View 9 Makybe Diva Drive

Bioretention Basin Cuttersfield Lancaster Way

Bioretention Basin Cuttersfield Salisbury Place

Bioretention Basin Race View 26 Makybe Diva Drive

Bioretention Basin Premier Vista Dawson Boulevard - Middle

Bioretention Basin Settlers Rise Logan Crescent - B

Bioretention Basin Sugarview Audrey Circuit

Bioretention Basin Ella Glen Lindwall Street

Bioretention Basin Settlers Rise Logan Crescent - A

Bioretention Basin Evolution Maggiolo Drive

Bioretention Basin Eimeo Lyam Place

Bioretention Basin Royal Sands Schooner Avenue

Bioretention Basin Richana Heights Caroval Drive

Bioretention Basin Settlers Rise Sturt Crescent

Bioretention Basin Avalon Devereux Street

Bioretention Basin Laguna Vista Power Boulevard

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 10 Argos Street

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 13 Vidar Crescent

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 15 Argos Street

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 15 Eros Street

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 15 Pelorus Court

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 17 Eros Street




Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 3 Colonial Street



Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 6 Colonial Street


Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 7 Mida Lane

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 7 Vesta Lane

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 8 Mida Lane

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 8 Pelorus Court

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 8 Vesta Lane

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield 9 Firefly Crescent

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield Eros Street (end)

Bioretention Pod Cuttersfield Sidon Court (end)

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Benarid Road x Farming Road, A


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Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Benarid Road x Farming Road, B

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Farming Road x Kiber Place, A

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Farming Road x Kiber Place, B

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Farming Road x Kiber Place, C

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Kiber Place x Froghollow Drive, A

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Kiber Place x Froghollow Drive, B

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Kiber Place x Froghollow Drive, C

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Farming Rd x Botanical Drive, A

Bioretention Pod Sugarfields Farming Rd x Botanical Drive, B

Vegetated Swale Premier Vista Dawson Boulevard - South

Vegetated Swale Premier Vista Dawson Boulevard - North

Vegetated Swale Cuttersfield Canecutter Drive

Vegetated Swale Cuttersfield Canecutter Drive Park

Vegetated Swale Shoal Point Waters Boardrider Boulevard

Vegetated Swale Shoal Point Waters Cruiser Court

Constructed Wetland Blacks Beach Cove Newport Parade

Constructed Wetland Blacks Beach Cove Whitehaven Drive

Constructed Wetland Northview Gardens Royal Boulevard

Lake Pioneer Lakes Dorothy Place – East

Lake Pioneer Lakes Dorothy Place - West

Lake Pioneer Lakes Amelia Drive

Lake Pioneer Lakes Clive Rogers Drive

Naturalised Waterway Little McCreadys Creek Dawson Boulevard

urban stormwater quality management plan for mackay ......for stormwater quality management being...

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