Laurie Jones
5 Boorook St
Buddina 4575
Ph 54441938
27th August 1999
The Premier,
Hon Peter Beattie MLA
Below are the circumstances leading up to my request for an open, independent investigation into the proposed forced introduction of indirect and direct reuse of treated sewage wastewater into Queensland, a state of Australia.
-------------------------------------------
The investigation must include the part played by certain members of the State Government, State Opposition, Caloundra City and Maroochy Shire Councils, the Australian Water and Wastewater Association [ in particular the Queensland branch ] and the Sunshine Coast Environment Council .
From now onwards;
[1] The Australian Water and
Wastewater Association is referred to as AWWA
[2] The Sunshine Coast Environment Council is SCEC
[3] The Caloundra / Maroochy Strategic Wastewater Management
Study is C/MSWM Study.
[4] The Caloundra /Maroochy Strategic Wastewater Management
Strategy is C/MSWM Strategy.
-------------------------------------------
1992 Autumn;
ECO-ECHO, the SCEC newsletter;
'MARY RIVER DAM STUDY UNDERWAY ' by Mark Warnick.
" In an issue of the ' Mary Valley Voice ' Maroochy councillor Herman Schwabe said;" I was most impressed to learn that the general thrust of the public meeting seemed to be to oppose any dam on the Mary River or OBI-OBI Creek and not fall for any divide and rule tactic. If the resolve remains, and is possible strengthened, this will have a severe impact on at least Caloundra city and Maroochy shire ".
" Cr Schwabe continued: " Subsequently, it is the sole responsibility of Caloundra City and Maroochy Shire councils. It is essential, if we want to be successful in the endeavour to protect our land from resumption for water supply purposes that we stand united, and equally, that we address those who are ultimately responsible for that decision; Caloundra City and Maroochy Shire councils ".
1993 ;
Certain members of the SCEC formed the EFFLUENT SOCIETY; ECO-ECHO, SCEC publication; ' POTABLE PROGRESS, THE EFFLUENT SOCIETY by Jenifer Simpson. Winter 1996.
" It was in 1993 That It Became Apparent that the only way to save our hinterland valleys from drowning was to recycle the water we already have. We formed the Effluent Society to persuade the community and engineers alike that returning highly treated wastewater to the drinking water supply was safe, cost-effective and sustainable way of managing the problems of both future water supplies and wastewater ".
Until then Jenifer knew nothing about wastewater
1993 Winter ; ECO-ECHO ' SEWAGE CLUB REPORT ' ; by Julia Langslow and Jenifer Simpson . " The term ' Disposal 'of effluent should be regarded as a valuable asset, not something to be ' disposed ' of. [Similarly Sludge] ".
REFER BRIEF for C/MSWM Study.
1993; ' DINOSAUR TECHNOLOGY SYNDROME ' Author Jenifer Simpson. Self Published. Amongst other things this publication promotes indirect and direct potable reuse
1995 ; August . AWWA Queensland Draft Policies booklet.
Extracts from this Draft include;
[a] " The technology for direct or indirect potable re-use is well proven ------".
[b] " A demonstration potable reuse pilot plant would assist in improving the public's perception of the potable reuse and enable scientific monitoring of performance ".
[c] " A demonstration scale pilot plant employing full scale process technology and located at a suitable site in South East Queensland should be constructed as part of the public education campaign ".
" YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE WELCOME ------ or phone Rod Lehmann on ----- ".
{ ROD LEHMANN working for KINHILL METCALF and EDDY carried out the ' South Caboolture Wastewater Reuse Strategy ' in 1996 . He was for the concept of indirect and direct potable reuse. ROD is one of two members from Kinhill Metcalf and Eddy represented on the Qld Dept of Natural Resources Wastewater Reuse Strategy formed in early 1997 . The Strategy has since been renamed the 'Water Recycling Strategy '}.
THE C/MSWM STUDY, WAS BASED AROUND THE RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION COMPONENT OF THAT STUDY .THE MAIN OUTCOMES OF THAT STUDY WAS;
[1] IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIRECT AND DIRECT POTABLE REUSE. [2] A PILOT DEMONSTRATION PLANT TO BE BUILT AT LANDSBOROUGH IN CALOUNDRA CITY.
[3] A EDUCATION PROGRAM BE IMPLEMENTED.
1995 ; Spring ECO ECHO ; ' WASTE NOT WANT NOT ' Part II - by Jenifer Simpson .
" There can be no doubt that the technology exists to treat wastewater to a quality where it is safe to drink ".
Jenifer was a member of the AWWA committee in 1995, water and wastewater project officer for the SCEC, a spokesperson for the Qld Wildlife Protection Society, Qld Conservation Council etc.
From 1993 onwards Jenifer has reportably communicated with the Department of Primary Industries and Natural Resources. Her views on direct and indirect potable reuse and dams are well known. She has been mentioned a number of times in AWWA publications and newsletters on this subject. ALL members of SCEC and AWWA would have to be aware of her support on this matter.
1995 April; Caloundra City Councils ' Landsborough Sewerage Scheme Wastewater Management Options ' information kit appeared. This document was to help the community decide between the three wet weather discharge options. [1] Mooloolah River [2] Pumicestone passage [3] Ewen Maddock Dam.
The extensive community consultation which involved surveys at the major shopping centres across the city resulted in a distinct majority AGAINST using the Ewen Maddock Dam as a source for indirect potable reuse.
1994 Summer; ECO-ECHO. SCEC publication. Vivian Coleman a councillor for Caloundra City Council was listed under Vice Presidents as was Lindsay Holt. Jenifer Simpson was listed as Project officer [Water and Wastewater]. As such Vivian Coleman was one of Jenifers bosses.
1995 Spring ECO-ECHO; Herman Schwabe is listed under the heading EXECUTIVE as is Leigh Rowen and Diane Priestley . Ex Officio , Vivian Coleman . Project officer Jenifer Simpson [Water and Wastewater ]
Leigh Rowen was not on the Maroochy Council at this time and only replaced Peter Wellington in late 1997.
Herman Schwabe as a member of the Executive was one of Jenifer Simpsons bosses.
1994 Winter ; ECO-ECHO publication . SAME AS ABOVE.
1995 Middle; Maroochy Shire Council approaches Caloundra City Council re a combined wastewater management study. Later that year Caloundra City Council agreed to this request, even though Maunsells EIS for the Landsborough Scheme was still in progress. It was now irrelevant.
1995 May; " At its 3rd May 1995 meeting council resolved; That Maroochy Shire Council be informed that council agrees to discuss the Strategic Wastewater Management Plan for the combined area with a view to establishing the breadth of the study and those aspects of the study which may be of benefit to Caloundra City Council ". " Council members subsequently joined the steering committee which was later rationalised ".
As of the 26th of the 10 -1995 the steering committee consisted of twelve members. They were selected to OVERSEE THE CONDUCT OF THE C/MSWM STUDY
Caloundra Council Reps [1] Cr Frank Born [deceased] [2] Vivian Coleman [3] Ron Piper [4] Gary Palmer. Maroochy Shire Reps [5] Cr Arn Barnes [6] Cr Geoff Littler [7] Gary Sabburg [8] Michael Fullelove . Rep from the Urban Development Institute of Australia [9] Tony Long [ Tony is employed by Kawana Estates who are the local developers who are connected to the Ocean Outfall ]. Rep from the SCEC [10] Jenifer Simpson. Rep from Qld Dept of Primary Industries [11] Rob Drury . Rep from Qld Dept of Environment and Heritage now combined with Natural Resources [12] Justin Overton .
In Nov 1995 Ian Cameron was on this committee representing Dept of Primary Industries. By Jan 1996 he had been replaced on this steering committee and was now working for Maunsells Engineering. Maunsells were then selected from other applicants as project managers. Ian Cameron was project manager for the C/MSWM Study .
1995 Sep ; Caloundra City Council Draft EIS Overview Landsborough Wastewater Scheme . EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ONLY.
Caloundra City Council was now aware that the Ewen Maddock Dam proposal for indirect reuse was the last option preferred by the community. The C/MSWM Study had already begun.
1996 Jan; A sub- committee consisting of three members of the original steering committee formulated the Draft Briefs for the Technical, Project Officer and Community Consultation component of the study. ALL three members of this sub-committee were members of AWWA. Jenifer Simpson was one of the three.
The draft brief states " In particular, there is growing public expectation that treated wastewater and sewerage sludge should be regarded as valuable resources and not as waste products ".
The community consultation documents Phase One Two and Three, purchased for $150-00 from Caloundra Council has an advertisement pictured which states " IS OUR SEWAGE A WASTE OR A RESOURCE? Decisions are soon to be made on this and many other aspects of what to do with wastewater from our homes and industry ". It is my opinion that the above had already been decided. As a VALUABLE RESOURCE, disposing it into the river, pumping it into the forest, inland, into the ocean was wasting a valuable resource. The Consultation attendees confirm this by their statements in the consultation documents.
1996. The book ' WATER QUALITY, FROM WASTEWATER TO DRINKING WATER TO EVEN BETTER AND THE DILEMMA OF WATTER QUANDARY '.
IS PUBLISHED by AWWA. Co-authors Jenifer Simpson and Peter Oliver .
Peter Oliver was teaching at the Maleny High School in 1992-3 . In 1994 Peter Oliver is reported as representing the Qld Dept of Primary Industries now under the Dept of Natural Resources. Peter is reportably a member of AWWA and SCEC.
Amongst others, special mention and thanks is given to John Atherton, Lyndsay Chapple , Rod Lehmann and Steve Posselt.
Rod Lehmann is as mentioned before a part of Kinhill Metcalf and Eddy.
There is a Lyndsay Chapple mentioned as working for Sinclair Knight Merz . Sinclair Merz Knight was selected by the steering committee and endorsed by both councils to build, own and operate BOO, the Landsborough Sewerage treatment and Reclamation plant. There is a Lindsay Chapple also mentioned as being President of the Qld branch of the AWWA in Autumn 1996.
In ECO-ECHO 1994 Spring; it is reported that " Jenifer Simpson has been nominated by Sinclair Knight Consulting Engineers for the prestigious Eureka Award. This is a NATIONAL SCIENCE AWARD and Jenifer has been nominated for her work in the field of holistic water management ".
Has Jenifer carried ever carried out paid consultancy work on water and wastewater. If so who has she worked for and when?
1996 Autumn; ECO-ECHO publication; Herman Schwabe is listed as on the EXECUTIVE; Barbara Cansdell as Manager and Jenifer Simpson as Project Officer.
Barbara Cansdell is a Maroochy Councillor. Hermann Schwabe is Deputy Mayor.
The Community Consultation component of the C/MSWM Study took place from May until Nov 1996.
1996 June; AWWA Publication ' WATER TALK ' . " Nick Apostolids gave a brief outline of plans by the Sustaining Members to construct a Pilot Plant to demonstrate the feasibility of direct reuse and indicated there was broad support for this initiative ".
1996 August; The Wastewater Awareness Workshop held at Caboolture;
Peter Oliver chaired this meeting. Notes taken state that John Atherton was present and spoke on potable reuse of wastewater [Water Renewal for Potable Reuse]
Rod Lehmann , Ralph Ash and Jenifer Simpson all spoke for the proposal .
1997 April; The AWWA Qld branch Policies booklet is released. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
* Nick Apostolidis * Peter Beavers * Tom Belgrove * John Bristow * Lyndsay Chapple * Rod Lehmann * Don Mackay * Mark Pascoe * Steve Posselt * Ron Walpole * Ted Cusack * Jenifer Simpson * Ann Woolley * Terry Loos * Howard Gibson.
1997 May; The Qld Dept of Natural Resources ' Wastewater Reuse Strategy ' is formed. The output from the Strategy to include; * Statement of government policy in all areas of reuse * determination of legislative changes * Monitoring protocols for reuse applications * facilitation of best practice guidelines; * determination of opportunities for commercial development * demonstration and research projects and education programs *specific wastewater reuse targets.
1997 Autumn; ECO-ECHO publication. Listed as being on the EXECUTIVE is Alan Kerlin . Allan Kerlin is presently a Maroochy Councillor. He moved the motion in August 1997 that the C/MSWM Study be adopted as the basis for planning for council's future wastewater infrastructure.
1997 August; The C/MSWM Study was adopted by both councils for planning purposes for the next 50 years. In attendance were;
Maroochy Shire; Schwabe , Wellington , Kerlin , Littler , Gordon , Thompson , Johnson , Kerr-Jones , Cansdell , Natoli , and Whale .
Caloundra City; Dwyer, Cummins, Cristaudo, Bonney, Gazzard, Coleman, Champion and Alcock.
THE MEETING ADJOURNED for lunch; When resumed Cr Littler, Kerr-Jones, and Cansdell were not present on recommencement.
Cr Kerlin moved the motion to adopt the study.
1997 August; the C/MSWM Study completed; The C/MSWM Strategy commences or ' Implementation of the Strategy ' as it is also known. The steering committee consists of the Study committee plus a member of the Qld Health Department.
1998 The ' WATER EDUCATION OFFICER ' is appointed. The Water Education Officer is funded predominantly by The National Heritage Trust with support and DIRECTION from SCEC, AWWA Qld Dept of Natural Resources and Caloundra and Maroochy Shire councils.
He has been directed to disseminate information regarding indirect and direct potable reuse for use in Schools and community groups.
The Officer is overseen by a steering committee consisting of;
[1] Peter Oliver [CHAIR] - rep
SCEC.
[2] Jenifer Simpson - rep SCEC.
[3] Brian Davis - rep DNR [Dept of Natural Resources]
[4] Peter Beavis - rep DNR.
[5] Ron Walpole - rep Maroochy Shire Council.
[6] Cr Vivian Coleman - rep Caloundra City Council.
[7] Jocelyn Bowden - rep DNR.
[8] Don Mackay - rep AWWA
[9] Ian Bovill - Water Education Officer.
1998 Feb; The C/MSWM Strategy instigates the HORMONE DISRUPTERS SUPPLEMENT to the C/MSWM Study because of the concerns raised by the Caloundra City News. The supplement is released around July 1998. The community consultation component attendees supported potable reuse based on the information supplied at the 1996 consultation. Despite the American book ' OUR STOLEN FUTURE ' and the relationship to hormone disrupters being present in treated wastewater being released in 1996 and despite the meetings held by the Bribie Island Environment Authority where Dr Keith Harrison spoke about the threat to our fertility from hormone disrupting chemicals which eventually stopped Caboolture from introducing indirect and direct potable reuse, the attendees of the Study were NEVER informed about the term Hormone Disrupters.
1998 Oct -Nov; CADS , Citizens Against Drinking Sewage collects around 10-000 signatures stating that the respondents do NOT want to drink treated sewage and do NOT want treated sewage wastewater released into the Ewen Maddock Dam , our back up drinking water supply .
These signatures were obtained in a very short time, in limited locations and with very few members.
1998 Oct; Hon Rod Welford states in correspondence to Caloundra City Councillor;
" Because of the many unknown factors in the area of health associated with direct potable reuse of treated wastewaters , most informed people in the reuse field would recommend non-potable uses rather than potable uses of treated sewage effluent at this time ".
1998 Dec; " Because of the existing opposition to potable reuse in Caloundra and the Dept of Environment and Heritage reluctance to issue a licence to release reclaimed water from the new Landsborough treatment plant into the Ewen Maddock Dam, Council , at its meeting held on 22nd Oct 1998 , decided not to proceed with the proposed discharge into the dam ".
" This event has significantly changed the direction of the strategy and council is currently looking for further guidance from the State Government , who by the way were involved in the original strategy -----------".
1999 Feb ; SUNSHINE COAST ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL
in association with the
AUSTRALIAN WATER AND WASTEWATER ASSOCIATION
' URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP REPORT '
EXTRACTS;
' AWWA'S Position On Urban Water Management '.
Tom Belgrove, President AWWA Qld Branch.
" The AWWA supports this workshop and its aims which is to develop a way forward in the use of reclaimed water. AWWA has in recent years been very supportive of the concepts involved in the use of reclaimed water and has been directly involved in seeking financial support for Demonstration Plants and Wastewater Education ".
LIST of ATTENDEES
Ralph Ash Caboolture Shire Council
Cr Graeme Ashworth Pine Rivers Shire Council
Dr John Atherton
Annie Barkl Annie Barkl and Ass
Tom Belgrove AWWA
Les Bevis EPA
Phillip Callan ONHMRC
Laurie Cappill SCEC
Cr Vivian Coleman Caloundra City Council
Chris Davis AWWA Sydney
Greg Doricott Qld Health
Steve Fisher EPA
Howard Gibson DNR QWRS
Vivian Griffin SCEC
David Hamlyn -Harris GHD
Steve Kelly DNR RM
Cr Alan Kerlin Maroochy Shire
Warren Lane DNR
Rod Lehmann AWWA
Rena Lloyd DNR
Ross Macleod Regional Adviser DNR
Peter Oliver DNR Water education Project
Gary Palmer Calaqua [ Cal Water ]
Gary Sabburg Maroochy Water
Jenifer Simpson SCEC
Helen Stratton AWWA
Anne Stuart EPA [Environment Protection Agency]
Wally Wight NORSROC
1999 April ; Hon Rod Welford informs Liz Cunningham MLA that ;
" The Qld Water Recycling Strategy formally the Wastewater Reuse Strategy is currently being coordinated by my Department Of Natural Resources. The Government's current Interim Strategy in respect of treated water as a source of potable water is as follows ".
[1] Source of Supply
" Where alternative sources of water are available for public drinking water schemes, water should be taken from the highest quality viable source ".
[2] Direct Water Recycling for Drinking Purposes;
" A moratorium has been put on any decision to introduce direct recycling into drinking water schemes until 1st Jan 2005 so that my department and Qld Health can evaluate sufficient information about the health aspects and reliability of such schemes . The moratorium is only in respect to a decision to introduce such schemes and NOT on the research and education aspects of direct potable recycling ".
[3] Planned Indirect Drinking Water Recycling.
Water authorities may set up planned indirect recycling drinking water schemes [ie discharge upstream of a reservoir] provided that the proposed scheme is carefully and thoroughly assessed. The scheme should monitor water quality and the potential health effects as well as evaluating system reliability as described in the National Research Council [1998] document Issues in Potable reuse ".
The above is a FIRST for Australia.
1999 May; Rod Welford MLA; Conditions in the provisional licence issued for the Landsborough Sewage Treatment Plant.
" Under the licence, temporary release of treated effluent to the dam is permitted only [i] When wet weather precludes the irrigation of effluent [ii] the irrigation storage pond fills to capacity; and [iii] tankering of effluent from the site would be impractical.
1999 July -August; A $1 million mobile water recycling demonstration plant - the FIRST of its kind in Australia - is being developed by the Beattie Government.
Although not mentioned this is a direct potable reuse plant for treated sewage wastewater. " This plant is an integral element of the Government's Water Recycling Strategy ".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QLD DEP OF NATURAL RESOURCES WATER RECYCLING STRATEGY;
Refer to attached documents;
REUSE APPLICATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP;
------------------------------
John Atherton - Used to promote potable reuse at Caboolture
Attended Urban Water Management Workshop.
-------------------------------
Peter Beavers - DNR Secretariat - acknowledged by AWWA for assisting to formulate the AWWA Qld branch Policies printed April 1997.
--------------------------------
Tom Belgrove - Qld President of AWWA - acknowledges by AWWA for assisting to formulate the AWWA Qld branch policies printed April 1997.
--------------------------------
Les Bevis - Environmental Protection Agency - attended the Urban Water Management Workshop. Is he an AWWA member?
-------------------------------
Rod Lehmann - a part of Kinhill Metcalf and Eddy who carried out the South Caboolture Wastewater Reuse Strategy in 1996 - acknowledged by AWWA for assisting to formulate the draft policies in 1995 and 1997.
Attended the Urban Water Management Workshop where he represented AWWA.
--------------------------------
Dr Helen Stratton - attended the Urban Water Management Workshop where she represented AWWA.
NOTE;
This group has;
[a] Nine government
representatives;
[b] One independent?
[c] Rod Lehmann AWWA
--------------------------------- -----------------------------
DEMONSTRATION AND RESEARCH TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP
Les Bevis - Holds a position on the Reuse Application Technical Advisory Group [above] - attended the Urban Water Management Workshop -
--------------------------------
Nick Apostolidis - AWWA pilot demonstration potable reuse plant steering committee with Jenifer Simpson.
--------------------------------
Ted Cusack - Kinhill Metcalf and Eddy group - acknowledged by AWWA for assisting to formulate the Qld branch policies in April 1997.
NOTE;
This group has;
[a] Has nine representatives from
government
[b] One from the Uni
[c] two from AWWA .
------------------------------------------ --------------------------------
CONSULTATION AND AWARENESS TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.
Graham Ashworth - attended the Urban Water Management Workshop
--------------------------------
Brian Davis - Represented on the Water Education Officers steering committee
--------------------------------
Jenifer Simpson - C/MSWM Study steering committee - C/MSWM Strategy steering committee - acknowledged by AWWA for assisting in formulating the Qld branch Policies. Member of the Water Education Officer steering committee with Peter Oliver - Member of the steering committee for the Qld branch pilot demonstration Potable Reuse plant with Nick apostolidis and others - Member of the Qld branch of the AWWA management committee for four years - Co-wrote the book From Wastewater To Drinking Water To Even Better with Peter Oliver who works for the Qld DNR previously DPI - member of the Effluent Society - written letters to DPI and Environment and Heritage in favour of potable reuse over dams since 1993 - involved in the newsletter to stop the Nathan and Comet dams - project officer for water and wastewater for the SCEC since at least 1994 onward - spokesperson on water and wastewater for the Qld Conservation Council and Qld Wildlife Preservation Society - etc-etc -etc.
---------------------------------
Ann Stuart - attended the Urban Water Management Workshop
--------------------------------
Ms Jan Oliver - any relation to Peter Oliver?
--------------------------------
NOTE ;
[a] This group has eight representatives from the Government;
[b] One Council representative.
[c] Jenifer Simpson represents AWWA and she also represents the Wildlife Preservation Society as well as SCEC.
------------------------------ -----------------------------
REFERENCE PANEL MEMBERS
How many are members of environment groups?
------------------------------- -------------------------------
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NOTE;
ALL seven members are representatives of Government.
Howard Gibson the Principle Project Officer for the Water Recycling Strategy - acknowledged by AWWA as having input into the AWWA Qld branch Policies April 1997.
The other members acknowledged as having input into the AWWA Policies Qld branch with Howard Gibson were Nick Apostolidis , Peter Beavers , Tom Belgrove , John Bristow , Lyndsay Chapple , Rod Lehmann , Don Mackay , Mark Pascoe , Steve Posselt , Ron Walpole , Ted Cussack , Jenifer Simpson , Anne Woolley , Terry Loos .
-------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
CAN YOU SEE ANY REASON TO INSIST ON AN INDEPENDENT OPEN ENQUIRY INTO THE STUDY, STRATEGY, WATER EDUCATION OFFICERS POSITION AND QLD DEP OF NATURAL RESOURCES WATER RECYCLING STRATEGY?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caloundra City Council is the only council in Australia that still has strategic planning documents that promote and plan for the introduction of the indirect and direct reuse of treated sewage wastewater for drinking purposes.
WHERE do you think they will introduce the concept?
What will its introduction do to the communities heath?
There is NO continually operating direct potable reuse plant operating anywhere in the world using domestic, infectious hospital, abattoir and industrial wastes, NO Windhoek Namibia South Africa only ever used domestic waste.
Whoever uses this concept FIRST will be involved in an undeniable experiment over the short and long term. PLEASE CONSULT THE KINHILL METCALF AND EDDY SOUTH CABOOLTURE REUSE STUDY FOR CONMFIRMATION OF THIS.
Reference from America dated mid 1998 states that there is NO planned indirect potable reuse using treated sewage wastewater disposed into a surface water body [dam] . There is demonstration plants, pilot plants and planned indirect potable reuse for aquifer injection [deep well] . Metcalf and Eddy were involved in this concept in America.
This page is maintained by
The Rivermouth Action Group Inc
E-mail: activist@rag.org.au
as a community service.