Following advocacy, in recent years the Department of Environment & Science (DES) has undertaken dioxin testing in Noosa catchment waterways (more details here), with the last report by the CSIRO in mid-2022.
DES have advised the following (in italics) on ongoing assessment of water quality:
Healthy Land & Water in collaboration with DES Science has delivered water quality monitoring in SEQ for 22-years.
Monthly water quality monitoring is undertaken at 182 estuarine and marine sites each year.
Ecological assessments are also undertaken at 49 freshwater sites each year, for a total of 231 SEQ sites each year.
Eleven of those estuarine and marine sites, and four of those freshwater sites, are located within the Noosa River catchment.
Summary results of the water quality monitoring are published in the annual Report Card, and detailed data is available on request from DES Science (email water.data@qld.gov.au).
2022 Report Card notes that the floods of February-March 2022, followed by a second period of major floods in May 2022 had a substantial impact on SEQ.
Report Card grades (A to F) are an indicator of achievement of water quality objectives.
The 2022 Noosa catchment Report Card grade shifted from A- (2021) to B (2022).
The Report Card includes commentary on the type and location of management actions, their impact on water quality, and the barriers to protect and improve water quality.
For any advocacy directly to the Minister in relation to Environmental matters, please email environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au and copy to our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.