9/11/2009How to enjoy a nice cool swim in a Council Water Storage Tank!

Some weeks ago I published a report about the new $ 60.000 $ roof on an older Council water storage tank at Collwood Road/Gumboil Road (Lake Macdonald). We taxpayer had to come forward with this kind of money for a 1000 sqm roof. This is 3 times more than a common roof. Now you think this must be a very special roof. Wrong.
 
Last week some boys found a simple way to go on the top of the tank. This wouldn't be a reason to write about this adventure. These boys have been driven by the desire to have a nice swim in our drinking water supply. Obviously it wasn't a problem to remove a short section of the new roof, big enough to slide in the water and have a good time.
 
Let's hope the cold water didn't trigger a certain bodily reaction. Just the idea is disgusting. Have you found anything mentioned in our local news papers? I haven't. The question is, how safe is our drinking water?
 
Last year I had a long discussion with a now retired Councilor about planting trees and shrubs to camouflage the water tank. I was told this can't be done because of safety reasons (terror attack). I think we are lucky that this person has retired. This is not only my personal conviction. Every person I spook about this couldn't belief it. You must understand that at least 50 % of the tank area are surrounded by trees and shrubs. To blow off the tank you don't have to do it from the passing road.
This former councilor was concerned about the falling leaves and branches it we plant new trees and shrubs. Obviously he forgot all the huge trees around the back of the water tank Sorry for this long explanation.
 
These boys have shown us how easy it is to gain access to our drinking water. They are "just boys" and no terrorists. How easy must it be for disgruntled people to do harm to the rest of us?
 
The Editor
 

 
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Posted by: Editor
Posted on: 11/9/2009 at 9:07 AM
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Categories: Water & Sewerage
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17/07/2009Drain management

A major problem was the control of the surface water (road area). One big concrete pipe ends in one of the subdivision blocks. Before NSC took over the road, the road builder had to make sure that all pipes were free of any silt. Great attention was needed to keep the area in front of the outlet level with the pipes. This was done with the help of a bobcat.

Now after 2 years, the whole stormwater system needs attention, specifically the area in front of the pipes. The build up of silt is about 250 mm. I asked the new property owner to inform NSC because most of the storm water goes thru his property and the build up of sand, stones and debris on the outlet side is considerable. Because we are told not to touch anything and the water drainage area is a wetland, he was told to his amazement that is it his job to clean the said area. In order to do this, he needs a special permit from NSC for which he has to pay around $ 90 plus the costs for a bobcat.

 

The same property owner enquired by NSC if he could cut down a specific tree which is uncomfortably close to his workshop. During the conversation she explained that she likes trees more than people. No one asked for her opinion. This has nothing to do with her job. I think there is plenty of room for professional improvement.

 
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Posted by: Mr A.Nnonymous
Posted on: 7/17/2009 at 12:56 PM
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Categories: Permits & Licences | Transport and Roads | Water & Sewerage
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17/07/2009Dying Fish

Imagine you are walking on your property along Lake McDonald. Sorry, when I did this, there was no Lake anymore.
This part of the Lake was gone. No rain, no lake. Even a big lagoon was only a patch of shallow water. As you come closer, you see hundreds of fish fighting to stay alive. What can you do?
1. You can walk away because this is not your problem.
2. You feel sorry for the struggling fish and think how to help them.
I did the latter. The only way to keep them alive was digging a trench to the old creek, which was now visible. I called a little excavator. Because it was already late, the excavator operator couldn't finish the job on the same day.
As soon as he started his excavator on the next day, Toni Moran from NSC turned up. There is a report that someone is digging on the lake. According to his superior you must stop. It is illegal to disturb the lake floor. I felt sorry for Toni because he was only the messenger. To make a long story short, luck was on my side. Next day we enjoyed the long awaited rain period. This saved all the precious fish.  Bureaucracy going mad.
 
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Posted by: Mr A.Nnonymous
Posted on: 7/17/2009 at 8:44 AM
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17/07/2009Sewerage system treatment proposal rejected

My first "encounter" with Noosa Council (NSC) goes back to 1986. I bought a property at Lake MacDonald, which was affected by the most stringent waste water regulations. Therefore I was amazed that the waste water disposal was subject to an old fashioned trench absorption system.
 
I thought if I would introduce a "Mini-sewerage-treatment unit" NSC would be in favor of my proposal. We have been asked to inform NSC about the proposed system. A meeting was arranged which was attended by some councilors and staff. This specific system and similar systems have been used in the USA and Germany for many many years. The distributor handed over brochures to about 12 people at the meeting. As I was only a by-sitter, I had plenty of time to study their faces. If there was one "official" showing interest on this sewerage system, I would have been happy.
 
Our proposal was rejected. We had to use the outdated, old fashioned trench absorption system. Twenty years later it is a "must" to use one of the treatment plants.

It stinks................................. 
 
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Posted by: Mr A.Nnonymous
Posted on: 7/17/2009 at 8:37 AM
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