Healthy Waterways
The Sunshine Coast prides itself on its natural environment. Our creeks, rivers, wetlands, estuaries, lakes, lagoons and coastal foreshores are central to the Sunshine Coast’s character, culture, and sense of place.
Our waterways are the source of our economic, social and environmental wellbeing.
Waterways health monitoring
Since 2001, council has contributed to the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership and one of the most comprehensive freshwater, estuary and marine monitoring programs in Australia - the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP).
The EHMP provides an annual Report Card on catchment and waterway health for south-east Queensland, highlighting where the health of our waterways is getting better or worse.
View the latest Report Card grades for waterways in the Sunshine Coast region:
What makes a waterway healthy [PDF 597 KB]
Factors affecting waterway health
The major contributor to the decline in waterway health is pollution entering creeks and rivers from:
- discharges of treated effluent from sewage treatment plants)
- suspended sediment and contaminated runoff from exposed soils of urban development and rural activities
- contaminated runoff from rural activities
- poorly vegetated creek and river banks
- poorly maintained privately-owned on-site sewerage facilities
These specific sources of pollution are targeted for management by council in order to improve the health of our waterways.
Initiatives to protect waterway health
What you can do at home
Here are some simple but highly effective contributions you can make to keeping pollution out of the waterways:
- Make sure soil and sand stockpiles have erosion and sediment control in place - a fact sheet [PDF 125KB] provides a range of simple techniques/ideas for reducing erosion and sediment runoff.
- Restore stream bank vegetation (assistance is available through council’s Environment Grants Program).
- Regularly maintain your privately owned on-site sewerage facilities
- Understand whatever goes down the stormwater drain ends up in our waterways or the ocean:
o sweep instead of hosing your driveway
o don't hose leaves or wash out bins into the gutter
o keep detergents out of the gutter
o wash your car on the lawn or at an approved car wash facility
o don't dump engine oil down drains or gullies – recycle it [PDF 96KB]
o clean brushes over soil - don't allow paint, solvents and cleaners into the drain
o don't dump your garden waste or grass clippings down stormwater drains, into local waterways or bush land - make compost instead
o use fertiliser and garden chemicals sparingly and avoid over watering
o bin your rubbish securely so it cannot blow about
o put litter and cigarettes in the bin - don't drop them in the street
o take care to keep bait bags, fishing lines and other 'fishing litter' out of the waterways
o bag and dispose of animal waste
o don't make illegal connections to stormwater drains
o try to surround hard surfaces with vegetation - increased paved areas will increase stormwater runoff.
What business and industry can do
In small business and industry, you will improve our natural waterways if you:
- make sure soil and sand stockpiles have erosion and sediment control barriers in place. A fact sheet [PDF 125KB] provides a range of simple techniques and ideas for reducing erosion and sediment runoff from building sites
- rethink your wash down and clean up procedures
- ensure mop water and wastewater from cleaning of rubbish bins is directed towards council's sewerage system and not stormwater drains. If stormwater drains are clearly labelled, it will reinforce not to use these outlets for wastewater disposal
- don't hose leaves or wash out bins into the gutter
- employ the correct disposal method for all waste products
- sweep street fronts and entrances instead of hosing
- educate fellow workers that whatever goes down the stormwater drain ends up in our waterways or the ocean
- establish emergency procedures for industrial spills
- ensure all loose packaging material, shredded paper, sawdust etc is bagged to prevent spillage during collection by council refuse contractor
- use grass and block techniques for car parks and footpaths where possible.
In small business and industry, you will improve our natural waterways if you:
- ensure appropriate erosion and sediment control is in place during activities creating soil disturbance - a fact sheet [PDF 125KB] provides a range of simple techniques and ideas for reducing erosion and sediment runoff from building sites
- rethink your wash down and clean up procedures - educate fellow workers that whatever goes down the stormwater drain ends up in our waterways or the ocean
- employ the correct disposal method for all waste products
- ensure mop water and wastewater from cleaning rubbish bins does not enter stormwater drains
- don't hose leaves or wash out bins into the gutter
- sweep instead or hosing street fronts and entrances
- ensure all loose packaging material, shredded paper, sawdust etc is bagged to prevent spillage during collection by council refuse contractor
- use grass and block techniques for car parks and footpaths where possible
- establish emergency procedures for industrial spills.
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