Sydney's Salty Communities – Turning the Tide for Blue + Green Carbon

Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Sydney’s Salty Communities – Turning the Tide for Blue + Green Carbon Literature, Data and Practice Review August 2015 Sydney’s Salty Communities – Turning the Tide for Blue + Green Carbon Literature, Data and Practice Review | Aug 2015 Page | 1 Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane About this document Copyright Statement© The document may be used for any purposes as approved by Sydney Coastal Councils Group. Ecological Consultants Australia assumes no responsibility where the document is used for purposes other than those for which it was commissioned. Statement of Authorship This study and report was undertaken by Ecological Consultants Australia for the Sydney Coastal Councils Group. Main author of the report is Mia Dalby-Ball whose qualifications are BSc Hons 1, majoring in Environmental Management and 20 years’ experience in ecological assessment and management. Others in the study from ECA are Smita Pandey BSc, Polly Simmonds BSc, and Emerald Cuthbertson BEng. Limitations Statement The high volume of potential information influenced the depth of the study. In general, broad issues were identified rather than detailed investigations being undertaken. Acknowledgements SCCG provided mapping data. Special thanks to Prof. Gee Chapman who assisted with the structure for reviewing Biodiversity Strategies (5.1, local government section), all those council personnel and Diana Charteris at AusGrid, who participated in interviews. Special appreciation to Fiona Shadbolt of Sydney Coastal Councils Group for technical input and editing. Thanks to Smita Pandey for obtaining copies of Local Government documents and Emerald Cuthbertson from Acacia Environmental Solutions for overall project review. Acknowledgement of Country In this investigation of information about biodiversity in Sydney’s Salty Communities, we recognise the long and continuous connection of the Original People with the coastal zone. We respect their detailed knowledge of plants, animals, seasons and longer cycles. We acknowledge the Original People, Traditional Custodians and Elders past, present and future. Figure 1. LHS Narrabeen Lagoon by Jessica Birk and RHS Sand balls from crabs in an intertidal zone – Pittwater Mia Dalby-Ball – Director of Ecological Consultants Australia Ph: 0488 481 929, ABN: 166 535 39 Sydney’s Salty Communities – Turning the Tide for Blue + Green Carbon Literature, Data and Practice Review | Aug 2015 Page | 2 Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane 1 Summary of Key Findings • Sydney’s Salty Communities, as defined in this project, are Sydney’s urban waterways and coastal environments as defined by the Australian Government in relation to the Australian Government Biodiversity Fund Round 2 projects together with SCCG Member Council LGAs and mapped in Figure 3 (p12) from littoral zone to limit of tidal influence. • SCCG commissioned mapping of Salty Communities, which found there were 55 ecological communities present. This review notes additional Salty Communities, some human created, in the Study Area. All are presented in this document. • Most federal and state planning documents do not have a section on coastal biodiversity management with the exception of NSW Government Marine Estate. While vision documents refer to marine environments there is a greater focus on managing terrestrial biodiversity. • Legislation at federal and state level has protection for coastal species and communities, however these are isolated from overall strategic catchment and planning focused documents. • While federal legislation has measures to protect biodiversity, including the coastal environment, federal level involvement rarely occurs due to the relatively small sizes of area or the low number of effected species (such as with migratory waders). This is despite these communities and species being threatened, often due to incremental loss. Examples include: littoral rainforest, saltmarsh and migratory wading birds needing 10% of flyway to trigger federal involvement. • In the case of the NSW Vision document A Plan for Growing Sydney (Department of Planning and Environment); the Sydney Coastal Zone is all within the metropolitan growth area, with the exception of the existing National Parks. The biodiversity focus is in the west and predominantly covers terrestrial areas. • Urban Coastal biodiversity is missing from state government agencies’ focus and vision statements. Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) data (e.g. Bionet) and management recommendations (as found in Recovery Plans and Priority Action Statements) are useful and used by local government with on-ground management. State government input to planning in the Salty Communities is largely within the Regional Environmental Plans (REPs) and State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs). • Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), EPA and Office of Water have a regulatory and development assessment role in the coastal zone. Grey areas still exist between state and local roles and responsibilities. Sydney Water (SW) conducts on-ground works in the Coastal Zone including concrete channel naturalisation and saltmarsh creation projects. SW frequently gathers data (water quality) including in the coastal zone and is responsible for water quality as it relates to ocean outfalls and storm water and sewerage overflows. All of this can affect Salty Communities. • Authorities such as Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) conduct work in intertidal ecosystems, particularly mangroves and saltmarsh, which aim to increase the quality and quantity of these communities. Utility management corporations, such as NSW Ports, AusGrid Jemena, and Rail Corp, conduct assessments and on- ground works in Salty Communities. All have biodiversity information and protocols for working in these ecosystems. These include excellent examples of systems and practices. • Local Land Services (LLS) appears to be the closest agency to on-ground works in NRM, and the coastal zone is yet to be defined in its charter. The apparent focus is towards rural areas. Greater Sydney LLS may begin to include a greater role in facilitating biodiversity management in the coastal zone. Greater Sydney LLS is about to (re)start the process of putting together both a regional and local strategic plan. The process will include consultation with local government and the community. Sydney’s Salty Communities – Turning the Tide for Blue + Green Carbon Literature, Data and Practice Review | August 2015 Page | 3 Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane • Local government information (literature and data) pertaining to biodiversity management varies considerably ranging from overarching statements to precise locations identified with targets and actions. Generally the literature and data have terrestrial biodiversity mapping, knowledge and actions. While seagrass is included in data (mapping), intertidal areas are absent. • Visions for biodiversity are included in Community and Sustainability Plans – generally these are too broad to mention the salty strip of the coastal zone specifically. Even within Coastal Zone Management Plans, coastal biodiversity is not a focus whereas flooding and erosion are major issues. • Local government policy, planning information and data is generally contained in DCPs and LEPs and less so in individual policies. • Biodiversity management information is generally contained in Biodiversity Plans, Bushland Plans and Reserves Plans of Management. Level of detail varies from detailed actions and Key Performance Indicators to only high level objectives. • Practice Review of local government shows the role of local government in Estuary and Coastal Management is key. The Estuary Management Practice has been in place for years. Local government is the co-ordinator of strategy and works with input from relevant agencies. Projects need funding from those state agencies responsible for the land, with councils generally responsible for works above mean-high water. Local governments’ co-ordinating role in estuary management may be mimicked in coastal management. • Community members, groups and NGOs such as Birds Australia, Wildlife Rescue Centres, EcoDivers and Ocean Watch collect and collate data on coastal biodiversity in Sydney. More could be obtained from the NGOs and community for review. Gaps Gaps found in coastal biodiversity information for management have been included in this review at the end of each section on an area of biodiversity. Key gaps are presented in the conclusions of this report. A quick summary follows: • Coastal intertidal zone – missing from 80% of Council Biodiversity Plans or equivalent documents. Also missing, in detail, from state and federal government urban release plans. • Coastal biodiversity is covered in federal biodiversity plans. • Greater Sydney LLS is yet to write Regional and Local Plans (working with local government and community). • Condition of marine communities (seagrass and soft bottom benthos) and some intertidal communities (saltmarsh and mangroves). • Template conditions on consent or requirements for consultants advising on mitigation of works in areas of coastal biodiversity. • Clarity of jurisdiction and responsibility over matters in the marine and intertidal zone (e.g. nets on swimming areas). • Environmental training for planning, compliance and open space management personnel. • Locally relevant standards for gaining base-line

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