Recent Queensland floodwaters are making their way to the sea and a turbid cloud of suspended sediment, flotsam and jetsam will be visible for some time.

Stormwater pollution is the most significant source of potential degradation to local waterways.

What’s not always visible however, are the chemicals we use in everyday life and minute weed seed that has also been transported by the mass of water.

Regular monitoring of stormwater outfalls and educational activities within catchments are practical ways of ensuring that stormwater is not polluted.

Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) is calling for volunteers to assist in its Stormwater Monitoring and Education Project.

Free training will be provided to undertake tasks such as:

-   learning the positions of stormwater outlets in the Noosa-Cooroy area

-   talking to local people about the stormwater system

-   drain stenciling at key sites

-   and assistance in using specialised testing equipment to take monthly water samples.

The Cooroy Township Stormwater Education project is geographically divided into three key areas for consideration. The proposed areas include:

•   The central business district, Maple St/Emerald St.

•   The industrial area in the Northwest, off Mary River Road.

•    Businesses on the eastern side of the railway line.

Objectives of the project are:

•   Making contact with businesses and gauging potential pollution impacts on the catchment of Cooroy Creek, and raising awareness on mitigating measures.

•   Advising businesses of their legal responsibilities in relation to stormwater quality.

•   Producing printed education brochure and distribution.

•   Producing a voluntary (and anonymous) contact list for future correspondence.

•   Building valuable rapport with local business people and facilitating open lines for future correspondence.

•   Stenciling drain inlet structure to raise public awareness.

Outcomes of the project include:

•   Assessment of industrial stormwater awareness regarding location of inlets and end point of stormwater lines, gross pollutant trap locations and maintenance, chemical storage and spill cleanup, pollution prevention, responsibilities regarding the legislation EPP (Water) 2009.

•   Enabling businesses to comment on how to improve management or monitoring of industrial stormwater.

•   Comprehensive list of businesses including contact details, gross pollutant traps, comments/suggestions.

•   Email list enabling future communication and co-operation between the businesses, NICA and Council.

•   Increased awareness of businesses that industrial stormwater runoff is being monitored and is a priority to Council and the community.

•    Media coverage of the program, implementation and outcomes.

•   Inlet structure to stormwater drains stenciled with “To the River” or similar advisory message.

Project information kit will include:

1.   Brochure specific to Cooroy township stormwater catchment , including images showing Stormwater Outfall, Receiving Environment, Events that have occurred and been detected during monitoring.

2.   Map of Stormwater Outfall sites in Cooroy township provided by SCRC.

If you would like to assist NICA in this valuable community work, please register at the NICA office 33 Thomas St, Noosaville on Monday, Tuesday or Thursdays, phone on (07) 5449 9650 for more information or Email admin@noosariver.com.au