PEV's Macquarie River & South

DEPARTMENT of PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER and ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GOALS for TASMANIAN SURFACE WATERS

MACQUARIE RIVER & SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENTS

May 2000 Environmental Management Goals for Tasmanian Surface Waters:

Macquarie River and South Esk River Catchments.

This discussion paper was used as the basis for community and stakeholder participation in the process of developing environmental management objectives for the waterways that are located within the Macquarie River and South Esk River Catchments *.

It has been prepared by the Division of Environment and Planning, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Land and Water Management Branch, of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment; Northern Midlands, Break O’Day and Central Highlands Councils.

Words and expressions used in this discussion paper have, unless the contrary intention appears, the same meaning as defined in the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997 and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. Ecosystem refers to physical, chemical and biological aspects of the aquatic environment.

* Catchment areas not covered in this paper are the Macquarie River catchment downstream of the Macquarie River junction with Brumbys Creek; areas of the upper Macquarie catchment within the Southern Midlands Municipality; and the South Esk River catchment below the South Esk River junction with the Macquarie River. For further information on these areas refer to the Public Discussion Papers: Proposed Environmental Management Goals for Tasmanian Surface Waters - Great Lake & Brumbys Creek Catchments, Lower Macquarie and South Esk Rivers and Proposed Environmental Management Goals for Tasmanian Surface Waters – Southern Midlands Catchments. 1 INTRODUCTION...... 5 1.1 WHY DO WE NEED WATER REFORM?...... 5 1.2 WHAT ARE THESE REFORMS?...... 5 1.3 WHAT WILL COMMUNITY INPUT ACHIEVE?...... 6 1.4 WHAT INFORMATION DID WE RECEIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY?...... 6 1.5 HOW WILL YOUR INPUT BE USED?...... 6 2 MACQUARIE RIVER CATCHMENT OVERVIEW...... 8 2.1 CATCHMENT DESCRIPTION ...... 8 2.2 WATER USAGE ...... 9 2.3 WATER QUALITY...... 10 2.4 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ...... 12 2.5 CATCHMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ...... 12 3 SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENT OVERVIEW...... 13 3.1 CATCHMENT DESCRIPTION ...... 13 3.2 WATER USAGE ...... 14 3.3 WATER QUALITY...... 15 3.4 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ...... 16 3.5 CATCHMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ...... 17 4 WATER QUALITY: PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES...... 19 4.1 SETTING PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES...... 19 4.2 PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES CATEGORIES...... 19 5 PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES FOR THE MACQUARIE RIVER & SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENTS...... 21 5.1 PEV SETTING PROCESS...... 21 6 WATER QUANTITY VALUES FOR THE MACQUARIE RIVER & SOUTH ESK RIVER 31 6.1 OVERVIEW...... 31 6.2 WATER QUANTITY VALUES ...... 31 7 COMMUNITY WATER VALUES...... 33 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Why do we need water reform? 1.2 What are these reforms?

A good supply of fresh, clean water is Two major aspects of the water reforms an essential requirement for human life, are water quality management and water a healthy environment and a productive quantity management. economy. (a) water quality management We need it for drinking, for recreational activities like fishing, swimming and The State Policy on Water Quality boating, to provide the food we eat and Management 1997 is designed to export, to generate clean electricity, and maintain or enhance the quality of to support mining and other industries. Tasmanian surface waters. Principal objectives of the Policy include: We also expect our rivers and lakes to look healthy, and provide a healthy · Move on from reliance on ‘end of environment for a wide range of aquatic pipe’ controls to take into plants and animals. consideration the number of discharges into a given water body, We take for granted that our use of or the sensitivity or current water resources is sustainable; that our condition of the water body. hard-working water will still be there in a healthy state to provide the same · Ensure that diffuse source and point benefits for future generations. source pollution does not endanger the achievement of water quality Tasmanian rivers range from relatively objectives and that pollutants short, swiftly flowing rivers fed from discharged to waterways are reduced mountain sources to slowly flowing as much as possible using rivers which may be reduced to a series environmental best practice. of pools during dry periods. Our waterways are not immune from · Facilitate and promote integrated problems, however, and many of our catchment management. river systems are showing signs of stress. · Focusing on overall water quality management strategies by River health, and the health of the identifying those water quality economies that depend upon them, is values and uses which are clearly linked to the way we use the considered worthy of protection. waters; the degree of regulation we impose; the quantity of water we take The first purpose of this discussion out; and the quality of water we return. paper was to explain the Policy and how the environmental values will be In response to a general recognition identified and used. Local communities across the community of the importance have a key role in identifying these of having clean water and appropriate values in their areas. river flows, the Tasmanian Government is currently finalising a range of reforms (b) water quantity management designed to ensure that these values are protected for the future of the State. The recent introduction of the Water § What uses or values do you have for Management Act 1999 to replace the surface waters in this area that rely Water Act 1957 provides for: upon maintaining or enhancing water quality?

· major changes to the institutional § Which of your activities rely upon arrangements for water management; maintaining or enhancing the flow of · the ready transfer of water rights water into catchment waterways? between different users; § Are there certain places on your rivers that you traditionally use for · enhanced stakeholder and community swimming or other recreational input into water allocation and activities? management; and § Do you fish in them? · a more transparent and equitable § Are there specific features of your water allocation system, including rivers and streams that are formal allocation of flows to maintain recognized scenic attractions, such a healthy river environment. as rapids or waterfalls? The second purpose of this discussion § Do you use water for livestock paper was to encourage community watering? involvement in ensuring sustainable use § Do you know of rare or endangered of our water resources by identifying animals or plants in, or adjacent to, water quantity values for selected specific areas of your rivers or catchments. These values will of streams? assistance to the Department in § Does your river supply the local undertaking water quantity planning in town water supply? your catchment. § Do you draw water from it to 1.3 What will community input irrigate your farm? achieve? Answers to these questions were recorded as ‘Community Water Values’ The objective is to identify water and are summarised in Section 7. management goals for the catchments within your region. These water Planning to ensure sustainable use of management goals will include Protected these waters and protection of river Environmental Values (PEVs) as defined health requires sound knowledge of local under the State Policy on Water Quality water quality and quantity issues. Management and identified water Community input to this process is quantity values. important. Many of the community water values and other issues that were 1.4 What information did we raised at the meetings could be best receive from the community? managed through integrated catchment management processes. Local communities have a valuable understanding of their regional 1.5 How will your input be used? waterways. A series of workshops and public meetings were held throughout Information from you on values the region where we asked questions particularly relating to water quality like: assisted the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control and your council to finalise the range of from stakeholders, catchment groups Protected Environmental Values for the and the public to better plan the water surface waters of your regional resources of your catchment. Water waterways. These values will be shown management planning will be closely in management plans for the region and linked with overall catchment in local council planning schemes. management planning to put water Further details of what this means is resource management on a sustainable given in section 4 below. footing for the State. Water management planning will be undertaken on a Information from you on water quantity priority basis, with stressed rivers in values will be utilised along with advice the State being targeted initially. 2 MACQUARIE RIVER CATCHMENT OVERVIEW

2.1 Catchment description Extensive agriculture activity in the region has meant that much of the The Macquarie River catchment covers original native vegetation has an area of over 3800 square kilometres disappeared from the lower catchment in the Tasmanian Midlands. The river landscape. Grassy eucalypt woodland rises in the Eastern Tiers near Lake and forest remnants occur along with Leake and heads south and west before isolated areas of native grassland. The running in a northerly direction to join dominant vegetation type of the more the South Esk River near Longford. elevated and hilly, upper catchment Major tributaries include the Elizabeth areas is Eucalyptus delegatensis forest. and Tooms rivers sourced in the Eastern Tiers and the Blackman, Lake and Isis The upper Macquarie River catchment, rivers that rise in the Central Highlands located within the rainshadow of both to the west. westerly and easterly weather systems, is one of the driest areas in the state. For the purposes of this paper, the Ross, within this region, has an average description of the Macquarie River annual rainfall of only 510 mm. catchment does not include those areas Significant areas of the catchment of the catchment where protected receive less than 600 mm of rainfall per environmental values have already been year and rely on late winter and early set. The areas not covered in this paper spring westerlies to produce highest are the Macquarie River catchment monthly rainfalls. The drying effects of downstream of the Macquarie River winds flowing down from the Great confluence with Brumbys Creek and Western Tiers over the warmer summer those upper catchment areas within the months produce evaporation rates in Southern Midlands Municipality. For excess of rainfall that can exacerbate further information on these areas refer drought conditions. to the Public Discussion Papers: Proposed Environmental Management Land along the regional waterways is Goals for Tasmanian Surface Waters - typically privately owned and used for Great Lake & Brumbys Creek agriculture; is State Forest; or in limited Catchments, Lower Macquarie and areas is subject to urban use. South Esk Rivers and Proposed Environmental Management Goals for Campbelltown and Ross are the major Tasmanian Surface Waters – Southern population centres in the catchment Midlands Catchments. region under consideration. They both discharge treated wastewater to local The upper reaches of the Macquarie rivers - Ross has an annual discharge of River and its tributaries flow through 22 ML and Campbelltown 111 ML. high and rugged country dominated by There are also smaller sewage treatment dolerite geology before passing through lagoons at Lake Leake. the low relief landscape of the Launceston Tertiary Basin lower in the The majority of the Macquarie River catchment. The underlying geology of catchment lies within the Northern this lower region is a mix of alluvial Midlands Municipality. Agricultural gravel, sands and till, with outcrops of activities are the backbone of the older volcanic and igneous rocks. regional economy. These include wool and sheep meat production, grains and be of concern due to the high likelihood lucerne production. Dryland cropping of Aboriginal sites being present. has expanded significantly in recent 1 years. Because of the low regional 2.2 Water usage rainfall, irrigation is seen to have a key role in the development of alternative The entire Macquarie River catchment agricultural pursuits. contributes about 28% of the natural annual flow to the South Esk at While wood harvesting provides income Launceston. This excludes the for some private landholders with areas contribution of significant volumes of native forest, plantation forestry is diverted into the system from the Great subject to less than optimal growing Lake. Average flows appear to be highly conditions in much of the catchment due variable from year to year. The main to low rainfall levels and soil type. river system is ephemeral, with long Areas of State Forest in the Eastern ponds providing the only available Tiers and along the eastern fringes of the water during extended dry periods of Central Plateau are, however, managed little or no flow. for multiple use by Forestry Tasmania under the Forestry Act 1920. Forest The low annual rainfall in the Macquarie Reserves located within this area - River catchment means that releases Millers Bluff, Tooms Lake, Snowy from regional impoundments – Tooms River & Snow Hill - are not available for Lake, Lake Leake and Woods Lake – are wood production. Under Schedule 3 of of critical irrigation importance over the the Forestry Act, 1920 a management drier months for much of the agricultural objective for Forest Reserves is activity in the area. Regulated discharges ‘preservation of water quality’. from these storages are particularly evident as base flow in the upper The catchment includes a number of Macquarie reaches over the drier reserve classes managed under the summer months. National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 (Great Western Tiers Conservation Lake Leake and Tooms Lake have a key Area, Central Plateau Conservation role in providing 400 ML of annual Area and Tunbridge Tiers Conservation township water requirements for Area) and the Crown Lands Act, 1976 Campbelltown and Ross. Town (large public reserves at Tooms Lake drinking water is chlorinated. and on the upper reaches of the Macquarie River and areas around Lake The storages also provide water for Leake). Both Acts have defined stock and domestic requirements management objectives for each reserve downstream. In addition, Lake Leake class that it is responsible. In all reserve has operational requirements to classes ‘preservation of water quality’ maintain the storage as a fishing and is raised as a management objective. recreational attraction. Records show that this storage has not failed over the There is little available information on last fifty years. Aboriginal values associated with waterways of the Macquarie River catchment, although it would be expected to have an extensive history of 1 Unless otherwise cited most background water Aboriginal use of the waterways. Any usage information comes from: DPIF South Esk erosion of soil deposits in areas such as Basin State of Rivers Report. 1997. Funded by Releases from Woods Lake provide of Primary Industries, Water and riparian, stock and domestic Environment and the HEC as part of the requirements to prescriptive rights water management planning process. holders on the Lake River and lower An environmental flow study Macquarie River. While water can be undertaken on the Macquarie River released from Arthurs Lake into the utilised a risk analysis model to identify Lake River, generally it is diverted into sustained flow requirements for these the Great Lake catchment. waterways 3. It nominated median Estimated water drawn for stock usage discharge levels of 1 cumec (86 along the Macquarie River and ML/day) for the Macquarie River over tributaries is over 2300 megalitres per the irrigation season. Flow at this level year – Lake River and Macquarie River was considered to provide only low below Lake River (700 ML); Elizabeth levels of risk that a range of ecological River and Macquarie River above Lake and fishery values would be lost. The River (715 ML); Macquarie River above basis upon which these values were Elizabeth River (930 ML). determined should be considered and is outlined in the original environmental The Macquarie River, supplemented by flow report. water from Great Lake via Brumbys Creek, ultimately provides water to the Other activities utilising regional Trevallyn Power Scheme at Launceston. waterways include tourism, boating, While water releases from the Great conservation, duck hunting, shack-based Lake can significantly affect the recreation and fishing. hydrological regime of the lower Macquarie and lower South Esk rivers, 2.3 Water Quality water usage in these lower reaches is not discussed in this paper 2. The Macquarie River catchment and the rest of the South Esk Basin have been The Great Lake – South Esk Basin is an the focus of considerable water quality Hydro Electric Corporation (HEC) assessment through the State of Rivers water district for which it has reporting process. While the major established rights to all the water in the findings for the Macquarie are South Esk River Basin for power summarised below, the original report generation purposes. However, water is gives a more comprehensive and provided for town-supply, riparian accurate summary of regional waterway stock and domestic use. Riparian users health 4. on the Lake River are also guaranteed access to water under the Electricity Recorded levels of conductivity and Supply Industry Restructuring (Savings total dissolved salts throughout the and Transitional Provisions) Act 1995. Macquarie River were higher than The HEC is the water entity responsible for managing the District. Water resource use in the region will be 3 Davies P & Humphries P 1995. An environmental the subject of review between the Dept. flow study of the Meander, Macquarie and South Esk Rivers, Tasmania. Dept. of Primary Industries & Fisheries. 2 Refer to the Public Discussion Paper: 4 DPIF South Esk Basin State of Rivers Report. Proposed Environmental Management Goals 1997. Funded by NHT & State Government. for Tasmanian Surface Waters - Great Lake & Brumbys Creek Catchments, Lower Macquarie elsewhere in the South Esk Basin, Generally, total phosphorus results are although not at levels to restrict low throughout the catchment. Of the agricultural use. phosphorus present, approximately While turbidity - the discoloration due forty percent of this nutrient is in a to suspended matter in water - is dissolved form that promotes algal generally low in the Macquarie River, growth. The discharge from the sewage the Lake and Elizabeth rivers appear to treatment plant at Campbelltown is a be characterised by more turbid waters. noticeable contributor to total Typically this appears to be related phosphorus on the Elizabeth River. more to the presence of very fine Phosphorus loss from the over 2000 sq suspended clay particles than to kms of the upper catchment was significant sediment loads. Large flood estimated to be nearly 25 tonnes over events do, however, result in a the three and a half years of the study. considerable deterioration in water Eighty percent of this was transported quality with significant increases in in two major floods, probably entering turbidity and suspended solids. the waterways as phosphorus bound to particulates in surface runoff. A large Levels of dissolved oxygen in regional proportion of this phosphorus has waterways show considerable variation origins in the upper Elizabeth River. as would be expected in conditions of varying flow (or no flow) and Trends for Lake River nutrients appear fluctuating temperatures. Dissolved to partially reflect the levels of nutrients oxygen generally appears to be at levels in the Woods Lake storage. These adequate for the protection of aquatic concentrations were not significantly organisms. higher than other sites in the Macquarie catchment, however. Substantial Any propensity for the development of fluctuations in turbidity in Woods Lake problem algal blooms is indicated by the appear to have downstream effects on concentrations of nitrogen and turbidity in the Lake River. These phosphorus in waterways. fluctuations, which are probably due to the lake’s shallowness and exposed Total nitrogen concentrations were position, are the cause of some concern higher than those recorded on the South for local anglers. Esk River catchment and were often at levels allowing development of aquatic Limited sampling for microbial algal blooms. Considerable growth of indicators of contamination in the filamentous algae was recorded at many Macquarie River catchment showed sites on the Macquarie River in the most sites had bacterial levels within the summer of 1994-5. While there is some standards required for primary contact contribution of nitrogen from treated (swimming and bathing). Several sites in sewage effluent downstream of plants, the upper reaches of the river did have the nitrate component of total nitrogen high levels of faecal indicators, but these increases markedly during rainfall events tended to be sites where stock had possibly from groundwater sources. direct access to water. Long term Nitrogen loss from the over 2000 sq km contamination, as indicated by water of the upper catchment was estimated samples of disturbed sediment, was at 417 tonnes over the three and a half greatest downstream of the Ross sewage year study period. treatment plant outfall. Sampling of the Blackman, Elizabeth and Lake rivers all showed contamination at levels above the guideline for primary contact. As an catchments. There are a number of overview, large areas of the Macquarie environmental issues relating to are relatively free of faecal coliforms waterways of the Macquarie River with contaminated areas where animal catchment. or human activities are the greatest. § Phosphorus loss from the upper 2.4 Aquatic Ecosystems catchment, particularly during high rainfall events. Maintaining instream habitat including river substrate, aquatic plants and large § Contribution of sewage pond woody debris is essential in maintaining effluent at Campbelltown to fish and invertebrate numbers and Elizabeth River phosphorus levels. density. Changing levels of river flow § Occasional high ammonia readings and inundation can also affect the food were recorded with no obvious links webs of wetland and riverine to possible sources (such as ecosystems, both for instream biota and domestic sewage discharge, fertiliser animals and plants that utilise the runoff or excessive decay of plant streamside environment. matter).

Threatened species of galaxiids - § A large percentage of nitrogen in Paragalaxias mesotes and Galaxias dissolved form is being discharged tanycephalus – inhabit the rocky from the Campbelltown and Ross margins of Woods Lake. The endangered sewage treatment plants. Swan galaxias (Galaxias fontanus) is § Fluctuations in Woods Lake also present at sites in the upper turbidity are of some concern to Macquarie where it is not subject to local anglers. predation by Brown trout. Exotic aquatic species can have a detrimental § High levels of faecal contamination effect on regional waterways. Redfin in some areas, probably linked to perch are present in the Lake and stock access to waterways. Macquarie rivers and possibly the Elizabeth River. This predatory fish is a § Willow infestation on some threat to native species and has little stretches of waterways. recreational fishing value. § Maintaining viable populations of endangered aquatic animal and plant Willows are widespread in the species. Macquarie catchment and have a range of deleterious consequences for aquatic § Ensuring environmental flows in ecosystems in terms of sediment build- waterways. up, flood debris and displacing native riverbank vegetation. § The impact of exotic predatory fish such as Redfin perch and Brown 2.5 Catchment environmental trout on native fish species. issues § Erosion of river banks arising from As stream conditions are determined removal of riparian vegetation due to both by in-stream activities and agricultural activities. surrounding land-use activities, § Erosion through forestry activities waterways act as a touchstone of (road construction, harvesting etc.) catchment health. Healthy waterways and associated loss of, or stress to, are indicative of sustainably managed 3 SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENT OVERVIEW

3.1 Catchment description Significant rainfall events in the catchment are generally due to the The South Esk River rises in the heavily passage of westerly fronts or sub- forested, hilly country to the north of tropical low-pressure systems from the Ben Lomond. It flows in a south- east. Topographic effects are evident easterly direction past Mathinna before with the lower areas of the catchment swinging back in a westerly direction to receiving less rain than the higher, join the Break O’Day River near Fingal, eastern locations such as Gray which meanders through the northern has an annual average of 1200 mm. Midlands joining with the Macquarie Substantial snowfalls can occur on Ben and Meander rivers before discharging Lomond, particularly between late June into the Tamar Estuary near and October. Launceston. Other major tributaries include St Pauls River, Ben Lomond Vegetation cover in the upper catchment Rivulet and the Nile River. Total is a mixture of high altitude heathland on catchment area above Perth is nearly the Ben Lomond plateau; rainforest and 3300 square kilometres. wet eucalypt woodland in the high precipitation regions to the north and For the purposes of this paper, the west of the plateau; and dry eucalpyt description of the South Esk River woodland at lower altitudes. Extensive catchment does not include those areas agricultural activity on the Northern of the catchment where protected Midlands plains and river flats along the environmental values have already been upper South Esk has meant that much set. The areas of the South Esk River of the original native vegetation has catchment not covered in this paper are disappeared. An area such as the 665- below the South Esk - Macquarie River hectare Tom Gibson Reserve is confluence. For further information on important because the type of dry this area refer to the Public Discussion forest and woodland found in the Paper: Proposed Environmental Midlands has mostly been cleared and, Management Goals for Tasmanian of the remainder, hardly any is reserved. Surface Waters - Great Lake & This block has been identified as having Brumbys Creek Catchments, Lower high conservation significance because Macquarie and South Esk Rivers there are many rare, threatened and previously unreserved plant species on The characteristic geology of the upper the block. South Esk River catchment is quartzwacke and mudstone. In the Ben The South Esk River catchment lies Lomond foothills and the northern within the Break O’Day and Northern highlands this changes to dolerite and Midlands municipalities. Agriculture granite and, lower in the catchment, a (sheep and beef cattle grazing) and landscape consisting of the flat, forestry are both primary land uses in undulating valleys of the Launceston the region. Tertiary Basin. The underlying geology of this region is a mix of alluvial gravel, The major population centres in the sands and till, with outcrops of older catchment are St Marys, Fingal, Evandale, Perth and Avoca. Annual discharge rates from town sewage In terms of total outflow at Launceston, treatment plants are 30 ML, 32 ML, the South Esk River catchment provides 189 ML and 30 ML respectively on average 37% of the total basin flow (Avoca uses septic tanks). Sewage (ie South Esk, Macquarie and Meander effluent from these centres passes rivers but excluding Great Lake through sewage treatment lagoons prior diversion). Variability of annual flows is to discharge to waterways. Nile and high. While there is some variability Conara also have small sewage between rivers, most appear to have treatment lagoons. peak flows in the period between July There is extensive forestry activity in and September and lowest flows the upper South Esk catchment and in between February and April. A single the Lake Leake area. A large number of ground water storage supplies low Forest Reserves are located within the flows in the upper south Esk upon a Eastern Tiers area of the catchment are fairly consistent basis enabling not available for wood production. prediction of these base flows over the Under Schedule 3 of the Forestry Act, irrigation season. 1920 a management objective for Forest The majority of flood flows affecting Reserves is ‘preservation of water Fingal Valley, Longford, Hadspen and quality’. Ben Lomond National Park is Launceston are sourced to the South the largest area within the South Esk Esk catchment and, in particular, to high catchment to be reserved and managed rainfall events near Mathinna and Gray under the National Parks and Wildlife (near St Marys). Act 1970. The Parks and Wildlife Service also manage the Tom Gibson Generally, flows within catchment Nature Reserve near Epping Forest. waterways are ‘natural’ flows. This reflects the absence of major water There is an extensive history of mining storages in the catchment. However, a in the upper catchment. Storeys Creek, detailed assessment of major waterways Rossarden, Royal George, Stanhope and would be expected to show the effects Mathinna are just a few sites of past of seasonal irrigation draw-off and in mining activity in the search for tin, some areas hydrological changes gold, wolfram and coal. The only resulting from activities involving significant operation that remains is the vegetation clearance. open cut and underground mining of coal at Cornwall in the Break O’Day The Great Lake – South Esk Basin is an catchment (near Fingal). Hydro Electric Corporation (HEC) water district for which it has There is little available information on established rights to all the water in the Aboriginal values associated with the South Esk River Basin for power South Esk River, however, it would be generation purposes. However, water is expected to have an extensive history of provided for town-supply, riparian Aboriginal use of the waterways. stock and domestic use. The HEC is the 3.2 Water usage 5 water entity responsible for managing the District. Water resource use in the region will be the subject of review

5 Unless otherwise cited most background water Basin State of Rivers Report. 1997. Funded by NHT & State Government. usage information comes from: between the Dept. of Primary levels were considered to provide only Industries, Water and Environment and low levels of risk that a range of the HEC as part of the water ecological and fishery values would be management planning process. lost. The basis upon which these values were determined should be considered The major population centres in the and is outlined in the original catchment use, on average, an annual environmental flows report. town-water supply of over 840 megalitres. Town water supplies at 3.3 Water Quality Mathinna, St Marys and Fingal are drawn from adjacent waterways. These The South Esk River has been the focus raw water supplies are not disinfected of considerable water quality and users are advised to boil before assessment through the State of Rivers consumption. St Marys will be moving reporting process. While the major to bore water supply in the near future. findings for the South Esk River and Drinking water off-takes further tributaries are summarised below, the downstream – Avoca, Conara, Epping original report gives a more Forest, Evandale and Perth – are comprehensive and accurate description chlorinated. The Rossarden town of regional waterway health 7. supply is untreated. Conductivity levels are low across the Estimated water drawn for stock usage catchment. While there tends be an along the entire South Esk River would increase in the lower South Esk and be in the order of 1000 megalitres per evidence of higher levels in some year. A stock feedlot at Powranna also tributaries, these levels impose no draws significant amounts of water from restrictions on water usage. the South Esk for stock watering and Concentrations of dissolved oxygen irrigation purposes. The substantial generally appear to be at levels that increase in farm dam approvals over support healthy aquatic ecosystems, recent years may indicate less reliance although occasional results from a site on direct pumping from streams for on Break O’Day River were at low cropping or stock watering purposes levels. These may be linked to low and greater utilisation of higher winter flows at the time of sampling or high flows to supply dams that can be used organic loading from streamside in over the lower flow summer months. willows.

An environmental flow study Catchment waters are typically very undertaken on the South Esk River clear with low levels of turbidity and utilised a risk analysis model to identify suspended solids. Within this low range, sustained flow requirements for these some seasonal trends are apparent with waterways 6. This study nominated a more turbid waters in evidence between median discharge level of 2 cumec (172 June and November. Increased erosion ML/day) over the irrigation season for associated with flood events the South Esk River. Flows at these

7 6 Davies P & Humphries P 1995. An environmental DPIF South Esk Basin State of Rivers Report. flow study of the Meander, Macquarie and South 1997. Funded by NHT & State Government. Esk Rivers, Tasmania. Dept. of Primary Industries & Fisheries. dramatically increases turbidity and primary contact activities - swimming suspended solids levels. and bathing. Levels of bacterial contamination do appear to increase in Any propensity for the development of the lower reaches of the river however. problem algal blooms is indicated by the concentrations of phosphorus and The effects of heavy metal pollution nitrogen in waterways. Concentrations from the Storeys Creek and Aberfoyle of nitrate (typically the largest portion mines on water quality and macro- of dissolved nitrogen available to invertebrate communities remains, with promote plant growth) were highest significant reductions in invertebrate over the winter months, which may communities downstream of the Storeys reflect the proportionally greater Creek junction. A one-off survey in contribution of high nitrate groundwater 1995 for a range of heavy metals in the to river base-flow than at other times of South Esk below the Storeys Creek year. In terms of total nitrogen, results junction showed levels of dissolved zinc from sites within the South Esk are and copper at concentrations which within the lower end of the range that is may affect aquatic biota. Acid drainage required for the protection of aquatic from the Storeys Creek mine does not, biota. Nitrogen loss from the 3300 sq however, appear to affect pH levels in km of the catchment upstream of Perth the South Esk River downstream. was estimated at 1480 tonnes over the Extensive degradation of stream habitat, three and a half year study period. unrelated to heavy metal pollution, also appears in the middle and lower reaches Total phosphorus concentrations of the South Esk River. Past gold- throughout the catchment are also at mining activity in the Long Gully Creek low levels that are less likely to support catchment near Mathinna has also problem algal blooms. Phosphorus loss resulted in local water quality problems from the catchment upstream of Perth in terms of arsenic levels. was estimated at 72 tonnes per annum over the three and a half year study Mineral exploration or quarrying period. Flood events appear to be the activities are expected to operate in major transport mechanism for nutrient accordance with the provisions of the loads, with very large increases in Mineral Exploration Code of Practice nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and the Quarry Code of Practice. Prior during rainfall events. to approval, new developments will need to demonstrate the use of accepted Point-source inputs of nutrients into modern technology and best practice regional waterways are restricted to four environmental management, including sewage treatment plants – St Marys, waste reduction, reuse and recycling, to Fingal, Evandale and Perth. During low ensure that impacts on water quality are flow periods, inputs of treated sewage minimised. effluent may produce localised nutrient enrichment of the receiving waters 3.4 Aquatic Ecosystems 8 resulting in prolific aquatic weed growth and nuisance algal blooms. The South Esk River has been significantly impacted in the 1970s and Limited sampling for microbial indicators of contamination in the South Esk River catchment showed most sites 8 DPIF South Esk Basin State of Rivers Report. had bacterial levels posing no risks for 1997. Funded by NHT & State Government. 1980s by heavy metal contamination environments. The redfin perch, which from mining activity at the Storeys is an introduced fish in the lower South Creek and Aberfoyle Creek catchments. Esk, may be having a negative effect on Downstream aquatic ecosystems were native fish species because of it highly severely degraded with loss of predatory behaviour. Trout, and invertebrate numbers and diversity. possibly tench, may also be having a Loss of riparian vegetation is also similar detrimental impact. evident in these stretches of the river. While remediation work is underway at Pest plants, particularly willows, are these sites, recent studies show ongoing excluding native riverside vegetation downstream effects. However, evidence (and associated fauna) along many of habitat degradation in the South Esk stretches of these waterways. Prolific upstream of the Storeys Creek junction willow growth can strangle or alter suggests other factors may also be waterways by sediment capture and having some impact on ecosystem flow diversion. health.

Regional waterways also support rare and threatened invertebrate species such as the Hydrobiidae snail (Beddomeia 3.5 Catchment environmental krybetes) in the upper St Pauls River issues and several species of caddisfly (Hydroptila scamandra and Leptocerus As stream conditions are determined souta) near Evandale on the South Esk both by in-stream activities and River. Efforts have also been made to surrounding land-use activities, ensure greater security for the waterways act as a touchstone of endangered Swan Galaxias through the catchment health. Healthy waterways use of translocated stock to the upper are indicative of sustainably managed catchment of the St Pauls River. catchments. There are a number of Fish stocks in the catchment appear to environmental issues relating to have been significantly affected by waterways in the South Esk catchment. contamination from Storeys Creek. · Erosion and soil loss in the Concentrations of heavy metals were at catchment and deposition in the levels that are lethal for both native and Tamar Estuary. introduced fish species – Brown trout, Redfin perch, Tench, Short-finned eel · Loss of phosphorus from the and Pigmy perch. catchment during flood events (probably in a form which is bound The vulnerable green and gold frog to eroded sediments). (Litoria raniformis), which is found in permanent swamps and dams of the · Maintenance and enhancement of lower South Esk catchment, is also habitat quality and diversity for sensitive to disturbance from water aquatic flora and fauna. regulation and diversion. · Flow related issues: potential for Exotic species, both animal and plant, excessive extraction of water and the are an ongoing threat in terms of their impact on in-stream flows. ability to out compete or displace local species in disturbed aquatic · Consequences of clearing and · Heavy metal contamination from draining flood plains and marshes in Storeys Creek degrading waterways. terms of regional habitat diversity. · Contamination of Long Gully Creek · Consequences of clearing and (near Mathinna) due to past mining draining flood plains and marshes in activity. terms of increasing flood peaks and reduction of summer flows. · Ensuring minimal waterway impacts from open-cut coal mining · Erosion through forestry activities operations near Cornwall. (road construction, harvesting etc.) and associated loss of, or stress to, · Maintaining viable populations of aquatic and riparian habitats; endangered animal and plant species · Environmental flow requirements.

· The impact of exotic fish, such as redfin perch, which prey upon smaller native fish.

· Willow infestations along many waterways clog existing channels; divert water to new channels with subsequent erosion; replace native riparian flora; and have impacts on water quality. 4 WATER QUALITY: PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

4.1 Setting Protected treatment plant discharges) and diffuse Environmental Values sources (such as runoff from highways, urban areas, farms, forest harvesting The first step in the implementation of etc.) will not endanger the achievement the State Policy on Water Quality of the Water Quality Objectives. Management 1997 is the identification of Protected Environmental Values The Board and local planning authorities (PEVs) of the surface waters in your will use these strategies in land use region. PEVs are the values or uses of planning and approvals processes, and the water body for which it is in ongoing regulation, to ensure that the determined that any given area of PEVs for a given water body are that water body should be protected. maintained or enhanced over time. These values and uses should be clearly 4.2 Protected Environmental in evidence at the time of the Values categories implementation of the Policy. The Policy lists a range of PEVs which The Policy specifies a range of PEVs are used to describe the identified values which may be applied to a given water and uses of a given water body. These body. More than one PEV may be are: applied to a water body. The PEVs are:

A. Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems

B. Recreational Water Quality and A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems aesthetics (i) Pristine or near pristine ecosystems; C. Raw Water for Drinking Water (ii) Modified (not pristine) ecosystems: Supply (a) from which edible fish, crustacea and D. Agricultural Water Use shellfish are harvested, or E. Industrial Water Supply (b) from which edible fish, crustacea and These values are described in more shellfish are not harvested. detail in Section 5.2. What does pristine mean? The Board of Environmental "Pristine" means waters not subject to Management and Pollution Control will human interference through discharges then specify a range of pollutant limits or other activities within the catchment called Water Quality Objectives. These (Australian Water Quality Guidelines will be designed to ensure the quality of 1992). water in that water body is maintained at a level which will allow the chosen B: Recreational Water Quality & values to be protected. Aesthetics

The Policy then sets out a range of (i) Primary contact strategies which are aimed at ensuring that waste water discharges from point (ii) Secondary contact sources (such as industrial or sewage (iii) Aesthetics The actual industry type must be specified in order to identify ‘Primary contact’ means recreation appropriate guidelines. involving bodily immersion / submersion where there is direct contact with water, & includes swimming, diving, surfing, water skiing.

‘Secondary contact’ means activities where there is some direct water contact, but it is unlikely that water will be swallowed (e.g. paddling, boating, and fishing).

‘Aesthetics’ means visual appearance of the water, being free from oil, grease, floating debris, unnatural colour, algal blooms etc.

C: Raw Water for Drinking Supply

(i) Subject to coarse screening only;

(ii) Subject to coarse screening and disinfection.

This PEV applies to water used as the intake source for public use (town water supply, in other words) and to registered private water supplies.

It does not apply to the taking of water from surface waters by individuals for private use for the purposes of drinking etc.

The Director of Public Health recommends that raw water from any surface waterbody should be boiled before use.

D: Agricultural Water Uses

(i) Irrigation

(ii) Stock watering

E: Industrial Water Supply 5 PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES FOR THE MACQUARIE RIVER & SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENTS

5.1 PEV Setting Process

The Board of Environmental waters within the Macquarie and South Management and Pollution Control, Esk catchments. local government (Northern Midlands, Break O’Day and Central Highlands Councils) and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service suggested, as a starting point, a range of draft water quality PEVs suitable for surface waters (rivers, lakes and streams) of the Macquarie and South Esk catchments.

These proposed PEVs provided the basis for discussion with regional stakeholders and interest groups at workshops at Campbell Town (14/3/2000), Cressy (15/3) and Fingal (16/3). Information and comment arising from these workshops were incorporated into the Discussion Paper to further develop the PEVs (Section 8). Public meetings to provide opportunity for wider community input into the PEV setting process were then advertised in the Examiner and Tasmanian Country newspapers. These meetings were held at Campbell Town (3/4), Cressy (4/4) and Fingal (5/4) followed by an extended period for comment until May 12.

The PEVs detailed below are to be endorsed by The Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control, local government (Northern Midlands, Break O’Day and Central Highlands Councils) and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.

The PEVs chosen from the Policy are those values and uses that are currently in evidence and apply only for surface Table 1: Protected Environmental Values

LAND USE Protected Environmental Values – MACQUARIE RIVER CATCHMENT

For all surface A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems waters within private land (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are (including forest harvested on private land) B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics (i) Primary contact water quality (Campbell Town weir; where most public roads cross over rivers - not the Lake River) (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality C: Raw Water for Drinking Water Supply (Ross, Campbelltown) (ii) Subject to coarse screening plus disinfection D: Agricultural Water Uses (i) Irrigation (ii) Stock watering E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; that is suitable to supply town drinking water (subject to coarse screening plus disinfection) at Ross and Campbelltown; that is acceptable for irrigation and stock watering purposes; and which will allow people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreation activities such as swimming (at specified sites), paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

For all surface A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems water on Hydro land. (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are harvested B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics (i) Primary contact water quality (where primary contact recreation permitted) (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality D: Agricultural Water Uses (i) Irrigation (ii) Stock watering E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; that is acceptable for downstream stock watering and irrigation purposes; and which will allow people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreation activities such as swimming, paddling or fishing (where Hydro operations permit) in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

For all surface A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems waters within State Forest (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are harvested taking into consideration Forestry Tasmania’s Management (managed under Classification System. the Forestry Act B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics 1920) (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem (recognising the designation of the area for multiple use forestry activities) from which fish may be harvested; that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational activities such as swimming and wading in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems flowing through Forest (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are Reserves from harvested having regard to the management objectives for forest reserves private land, outlined in Schedule 3 of the Forestry Act, 1920 hydro land, state forest or B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics un-allocated crown land (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality

E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters that have their A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems headwaters within Forest (i) Protection of pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems having regard for the Reserves management objectives for forest reserves outlined in Schedule 3 of the Forestry Act, 1920

B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics

(i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality

E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a pristine or near pristine aquatic ecosystem and which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems having their headwaters (i) Protection of pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems having regard for the within the management objectives for conservation areas outlined in Schedule 4 of the Central Plateau National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1970 Conservation B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics Area; Great Western Tiers (i) Primary contact water quality Conservation (ii) Secondary contact water quality Area & Tunbridge Tiers (iii) Aesthetic water quality Conservation E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) Area

(managed under That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a pristine or near pristine aquatic ecosystem the National that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational Parks and Wildlife activities such as swimming, rafting and fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is Act 1970) suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems flowing through (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are the Central harvested and having regard for the management objectives for conservation Plateau areas outlined in Schedule 4 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1970 Conservation Area; Great B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics Western Tiers (i) Primary contact water quality Conservation Area & (ii) Secondary contact water quality Tunbridge Tiers Conservation (iii) Aesthetic water quality Area from state E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation) forest, un- allocated crown That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a land, hydro or physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem private land from which edible fish may be harvested; that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational activities such as swimming, rafting and (managed under fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) the National Parks and Wildlife in the Trevallyn Power Scheme. Act 1970) Surface Waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems on Un-allocated Crown Land (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are harvested B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational activities such as swimming, rafting and fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme. LAND USE Protected Environmental Values – SOUTH ESK RIVER CATCHMENT

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; that is suitable to supply town drinking water (subject to coarse screening plus disinfection) at Mathinna, St Marys, Fingal, Rossarden, Avoca, Conara, Epping Forest, Evandale & Perth; that is acceptable for irrigation and stock watering purposes; and which will allow people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreation activities such as swimming (at specified sites), paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use in the Fingal Coal Washery, Powranna Feedlot and (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme. Surface Waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems on Un-allocated Crown Land (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are harvested B: Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational activities such as swimming, rafting and fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem (recognising the designation of the area for multiple use forestry activities) from which fish may be harvested; that allows people to safely engage in primary and secondary contact recreational activities such as swimming and wading in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters flowing through A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems Forest (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are Reserves from harvested having regard to the management objectives for forest reserves private land, outlined in Schedule 3 of the Forestry Act, 1920 state forest or un-allocated B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics crown land (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems Surface waters (i) Protection of pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems having regard for the that have their management objectives for forest reserves outlined in Schedule 3 of the headwaters Forestry Act, 1920. * within Forest Reserves B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics (i) Primary contact water quality (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a pristine or near pristine aquatic ecosystem and which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme. Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems flowing through National Parks (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are (Ben Lomond) harvested having regard for the management objectives outlined in Schedule 4 or Nature of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1970 Reserves (Tom B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics Gibson) from private land, (i) Primary contact water quality state forests or un-allocated (ii) Secondary contact water quality crown land (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems that have their headwaters (i) Protection of pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems having regard for the within National management objectives outlined in Schedule 4 of the National Parks and Parks (Ben Wildlife Act, 1970 Lomond) or Nature B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics Reserves (Tom (i) Primary contact water quality Gibson) (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a pristine or near pristine aquatic ecosystem and which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme. Surface waters A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems flowing through reserves (ii) Protection of modified (not pristine) ecosystems from which edible fish are dedicated under harvested having regard to the management objectives for objectives for the Crown reserves Lands Act 1976 B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics (inc. Lake Leake) from (i) Primary contact water quality private land, state forests or (ii) Secondary contact water quality un-allocated crown land (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should provide water of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquatic ecosystem from which edible fish may be harvested; which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters; and is suitable for use (following impoundment) in the Trevallyn Power Scheme.

Surface waters that have their A: Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems headwaters (i) Protection of pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems having regard to the within reserves management objectives for reserves. * # dedicated under the Crown B: Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics Lands Act 1976 (inc. Lake (i) Primary contact water quality Leake). (ii) Secondary contact water quality (iii) Aesthetic water quality E: Industrial Water Supply (Hydro-Electric Power Generation)

* Subject to assessment under the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998

# Historic mining activities or other historic land uses may have resulted in long term water quality impacts to some streams or rivers within these reserve classes and to their associated ecosystems. This may mean that the water quality in these rivers or streams may not currently support pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems or primary contact recreational activities. This should be taken into consideration at the time that management decisions are being made for individual rivers or streams. Water quality data is not currently available for most surface waters in these areas. 6 WATER QUANTITY VALUES FOR THE MACQUARIE RIVER & SOUTH ESK RIVER

6.1 Overview • Ecosystem values; • Physical landscape values. While water quality is a very important part of any water management regime, • Consumptive and non-consumptive the issue of how much water a river or use values; stream carries, and how that flow is • Recreation values; managed, is of equal importance. Water quality and quantity are closely linked. • Aesthetic landscape values; Your advice will provide input into a The State Government proposes to re- broader process aimed at gathering organise the way water flow in our water management values from rivers and streams is managed, and one stakeholders, community groups and of the key understandings is that there government agencies. This information needs to be a specific allocation of water will be utilised when water management for the river or stream itself. This is planning for your catchment is necessary not only to protect the undertaken. This planning will be aquatic life of the river, but also to undertaken on a priority basis, with the maintain basic "river health". If there is most stressed rivers in the State being insufficient flow at crucial times of the targeted initially. year, the overall quality of the remaining water may be badly affected. This will An appraisal of water quantity values very likely have a negative effect on will be undertaken in order to develop human uses of the water, as well as on water management goals for the the environment. catchment. This will be undertaken during the water management planning In some instances there may be process. competing uses for the available resource, and that there may need to be An explanation of the water quantity trade-offs to ensure a balanced sharing value categories and examples of arrangement between human uses and specific values are given below: the needs of the river environment. Ecosystem values: The term is used to The allocation of water for the identify those values which are to be environment must be based on scientific protected and / or enhanced in the information, and also on legitimate current state of aquatic and adjacent community values and uses. This land ecosystems. Specific water values community values information was associated with the ecosystem value collected as part of the community category may be: consultation process. • protection of an endangered species 6.2 Water quantity values (plant or animal);

Five broad categories of water quantity • protection or improvement in native values have been identified, and as with fish populations; the water quality PEVs, it is likely that • protection of riverine vegetation; most rivers will attract more than one value/use category. The categories are: • provision of adequate water for bodies for purposes such as kayaking, stream habitat for flora and fauna; canoeing, sailing, swimming, fishing etc. This type of value is difficult to • provision of water for wetland quantify, but is an essential part of our and/or estuary ecosystems. way of life in Tasmania. Water quality Physical Landscape values: These issues are also important, especially values are closely related to the physical where primary contact occurs nature of the catchment. This includes (swimming for example), or where the the nature and constitution of channels, recreational activity relies on a base of the frequency of floods and droughts, good quality water, such as a soil and rock types, and vegetation recreational fishery. Examples may coverage. These values are also closely include: associated with ecosystem function, and • maintenance or improvement of the may overlap with the protection of quantity (and quality) of water for ecosystem values. Specific water values recreational fishery (trout, blackfish associated with physical landscape etc); values may include: • provision of sufficient water for • provision of variable flows; whitewater rafting; • prevention of erosion; • provision of sufficient water (of • protection or improvement of adequate quality) for swimming. riparian zone. Aesthetic Landscape values: These Consumptive and non-consumptive use values relate to human appreciation of values: These are related to the current water and adjacent environments. It is and potential human uses of water often extremely difficult to address bodies. Consumptive use refers to the these types of values, or work out the extraction of water from the water flow requirements to ensure their body, with no return of it to the protection. They are, however, waterbody. Examples may include: legitimate values which must be acknowledged in any good management • provision of water for irrigation; process. Examples may include: • provision of water for town supply; • maintenance or improvement of • provision of water for industry. flow through gorges or over waterfalls; Non-consumptive use refers to extraction or use of water, where the • protection of scenic features in a water is eventually returned to the river. river. Examples may include: Many of the community water values detailed in Section 7 are related to • use of water for hydro-electricity water quantity issues. These values generation; will provide the basis for future • use of water for fish farming. water management planning processes in the Macquarie and South Esk River catchments. Recreational values: These include the range of direct human uses of water 7 Community Water Values The following community water values were obtained from regional stakeholder workshops and public forums held at Campbell Town, Cressy and Fingal.

Table 3: Nominated Water Values - stakeholder workshop (March 14) & advertised public meeting (April 3). Campbell Town.

Water Value Nominated Water Values Categories Ecosystem · Water for maintaining riparian vegetation values · Waterways with less willows and more tea-trees · Less cumbungii in waterways (possibly related to flows or spread by birds) · Successful translocation of Swan galaxiids (native fish) to upper South Esk tributaries · Pygmy perch in the Macquarie and South Esk rivers · Brown trout in some of the regions waterways · Rainbow trout at Lake Leake · Platypus widely distributed · Eels · Fresh water mussel in parts of the South Esk & Macquarie · Provides bird habitat · Astercopsis franklinii (freshwater crayfish) · Provision of seasonal flow cycles · Maintaining fish life · Maintain instream habitat for animals and plants · Maintain environmental flow in Elizabeth/Macquarie system (3 ML/day suggested) Consumptive · Water storage values of broadwaters or non- · Irrigation use consumptive · Hydro electricity generation (Hydro has primary control over waters in South Esk values Basin) · Stock and domestic use · Coal washery at Fingal · Town water supply · Feedlot supply on South Esk at Powranna · Swimming pools at Campbelltown and Ross · Use for forestry activities (new growth reduces catchment yield as opposed to old growth, this change in yield is particularly significant over low flow summer periods) Recreational · Fishing for trout and eels (particularly Tooms Lake, Lake Leake and lower values reaches of Macquarie and South Esk rivers) · Canoeing on the Macquarie (starting at Ross) · Camping (Griffen Park on South Esk; Bridge at Mathinna) · Swimming at all towns without pools. At Mathinna. Possibly weir at Campbell Town but broken glass. · Power-boating on broadwaters · Duck shooting all waterways · Bird watching Aesthetic · Rivers at Ross, Campbell Town and Perth as part of townscape landscape values Physical · Water over Perth weir landscape · Riffle (rapids) zones along rivers values · Broadwaters on the Macquarie and South Esk Other issues · Hydro operations and interactions with u/s users in terms of peak flows periods · Relative economic values of different water usages · Need for well-controlled weirs · Storage of excess winter flows and releases which mimic seasonal flow variations · Call for construction of dam at Longmarsh on upper Macquarie

Table 4: Nominated Water Values - stakeholder workshop (March 15) & advertised public meeting (April 4). Cressy.

Water Value Nominated Water Values Categories

Ecosystem · Native vegetation instead of willows on waterways (while willows generally values undesirable because they block river and reduce habitat, they may be preferable to no vegetation cover) · Macquarie free of ‘ricegrass’ (probably reed Phragmites australis), some patches upstream of Woolmers Bridge · Waterways free of blue-green algal blooms · River flows which maintain native vegetation of waterways · Maintaining variable flows in waterways · Breeding habitat (flow over gravel bed ideal for breeding trout) · Clear water in tributary streams · Maintaining threatened galaxiids in Woods Lake Consumptive · Rivers have value as transport mechanism for tradeable water or non- · Town drinking water consumptive · Stock and domestic use for riparian landowners values · Homestead use (drawing water from waterways for individual domestic use [this may include drinking but the Director of Public Health requires all drinking water to be treated]) · Watering gardens (domestic) · Irrigation (increasing demand) · Water supply for power generation at Trevallyn (ability to undertake works allowed for under the water licence) · Stable regulated flow regimes arising from Hydro operations (opportunity for community input into these operations) · Industrial use at Sevrup fish farm and Longford abattoirs (however PEVs have already been set for these areas) · Use by small scale commercial enterprises in the area – vehicle wash downs etc Recreational · Swimming at varied locations. Particularly over summer where public roads cross values over rivers. Not on the Lake River. · Angling · Kayaking (scouts use the Macquarie between Campbell Town and Longford) · Duck shooting along the Macquarie and South Esk · Camping & bushwalking on riverbanks Aesthetic · General appeal of native riparian (riverside) vegetation landscape values Physical · Unblocked streams (no blockages due to sediment build-up around willows) landscape values Other issues · Woods Lake used for flood control · Minimise sewage input into waterways · Private storages – could be used as flood buffer for downstream areas by keeping empty over high rainfall period, alternative view that should fill up at these periods · Higher water levels in Woods Lake provide higher water values – in terms of the ecology, water quality and downstream use · Lake Sorell related to upper Macquarie river and catchment health. Table 5: Nominated Water Values - stakeholder workshop (March 16) & advertised public meeting (April 5). Fingal.

Water Value Nominated Water Values Categories Ecosystem · Protection and retention of riparian vegetation values · Water filtering role provided by wetlands (including Epping Marshes) · Galaxiids (native fish) translocated to sites in upper South Esk · Blackfish · Waterways free of weeds (willows, cumbungii etc.) · Visits by white breasted sea eagle · Role of floods in maintaining floodplain and wetland health Consumptive or · Stock watering non-consumptive · Household/Domestic (this may include drinking but the Director of Public Health values requires all drinking water to be treated) · Town drinking water supply (both river and groundwater) · Irrigation · Other water used in food production · Coal washery at Fingal · Electricity generation Recreational · Tourism related values · School camping and water related activities at Rostrevor · Photography · Fishing · Duck shooting · Water skiing (Ormley between Avoca and Fingal) · Bird watching · Swimming (Fingal upstream of sewage treatment plant past railway; Mathinna; Avoca; Briar Corner on Break O’Day; Royal George) · Camping (Griffen Park at Mathinna; State Forest areas; where permitted on private land) Aesthetic · Tourism related (waterfalls etc.) landscape · Provides more interesting surroundings values · Aesthetic value of river as whole Physical · Meadstone Falls in St Pauls catchment landscape · Falls at Mathinna values Other issues · Educational value as resource for schools · Waterways have historical and cultural value in determining the pattern of settlement · Scientific value for water quality & ecological studies · Water has range of economic values · Social value for recreation, tourism and aesthetic appreciation · Use of waterways as drain (runoff from private dwellings, irrigation etc)