ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09 Chipping Norton Lake Authority
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ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09 Chipping Norton Lake Authority National Library of Australia nla plc·an8008799-v Front Cover: View of the dam over the river at Liverpool, N.S. Wales Mason, Walter G. 1857, 1 print: wood engraving. National Library of Australia 30 October 2009 CHIPPING NORTON LAKEAUTHORITY The Hon Tony Kelly ALGA MLC Minister for Lands Level 34 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 2008/2009 Annual Report for Chipping Norton Lake Authority Dear Mr Kelly I have the pleasure of submitting to you, for presentation to Parliament, the Annual Report of the Chipping Norton Lake Authority for the year ended 30 June 2009. The report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act, 1984, and the Public Finance and Audit Act, 1983. Yours sincerely Brian Dooley Minister's Delegate Chipping Norton Lake Authority CONTENTS Introductory Remarks 1 Aims and Objectives of the Authority 2 Administration 2 Advisory Committee Areas of the Department of Environment and Climate Change Relevant to the 3 Chipping Norton Lake Authority Improvement Works: 4 General 4 Major Works 4 Liverpool Weir Remediation 4 Other Project Related Expenses 6 Dowling beach Development 6 Other Activities of the Authority: 7 Land Divestment 7 Leases and Licences 7 Community Access 7 Community Supportand Partnerships 8 Financial Report to 30 June 2009 Statement by Minister Independent Auditor's Report Audited Financial Report Appendices: A - Land Management and Divestment B - Geographical Names C - Provisional Budget 2009/2010 Locality Plan Aerial Photographs of Chipping Norton Lake Scheme Reporting Philosophy Our report is characterised by openness and willingness to provide comprehensive information. We believe such detail should be publicly available. It reduces uncertainty enabling Government to assess the value of the Authority and be confident that its assets are being well managed. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS The responsibility for the administration and implementation of the "Chipping Norton Lake Authority Act 1977" was vested in the Minister for Lands by a special supplement of the Government Gazette in February 2005. The charter of the Authority is the environmental restoration of a section of the Georges River near Chipping Norton devastated by uncontrolled sand extraction, to establish a lake, rehabilitate waterways to provide foreshore parks and public recreation facilities and to develop wildlife refuges. By agreement with the Department of Lands, through 2008-09 the Authority operated through the efforts of officers from the then Department of Environment and Climate Change. Responsibilities included the design and implementation of numerous works. Works, which included erosion control, sand mine rehabilitation, provision of access, picnic facilities and habitat restoration were undertaken in accordance with an approved Master Plan of the lake scheme. Using royalty income collected from past extraction and filling operations, restoration was continued on the rehabilitation of foreshore and estuarine environments. During the preceding 32 years, the Chipping Norton Lake Authority has been progressively restoring the degraded reach of the Georges River that extends between Milperra and Liverpool. The river and the associated foreshore parklands now represent a significant recreational amenity for hundreds of thousands of residents from central and western Sydney. In 2008/2009 the Authority concluded designs and negotiations with Fairfield City Council and local stakeholders for the development of the Dowling Beach site on Floyd Bay at Lansvale. Remediation works continued on the heritage and environmentally significant Liverpool We ir which is upstream and has an hydraulic relationship with the lake scheme. Funds were acquired for the remediation of the weir to safeguard against failure and major environmental damage to the river and the lake scheme. Considerable savings were achieved through the development of an innovative design that conserved a majority of the remaining convict built aspects of the weir. The Authority's efforts were recognised in 2009 when the Liverpool Weir Remediation Project received the Environment and Heritage Excellence Award from the Sydney Division of Engineers Australia. The award was given for the protection of the natural environment, for conserving engineering heritage and remediating environmental damage. As from July 2009 complete management of the affairs of the Authority will revert to the NSW Land and Property Management Authority. Discussions are in progress to facilitate the creation of a State Park under the Crown Lands Act that will provide a practical mechanism for ongoing management of the environment restored through the efforts of the Authority over preceding decades. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE AUTHORITY The objective of the Authority's activities is to transform an environment previously devastated by poorly managed soil and sand extraction operations into an attractive regional recreational resource with improved ecological values. The works considered necessary to achieve this transformation include: The development of a lake system with adequate circulation to maintain water quality and sufficient area and depth to permit use for boating and other recreational activities; >- The provision of rehabilitated habitats for the preservation of native wildlife; >- The stabilisation of eroding foreshore areas, the construction of beaches and the provision of public access to lake foreshores via walkways, cycle tracks and roads; >- The creation of landscaped parks and carparks on the lake foreshores for passive recreation and for sporting and other pursuits; >- The construction of wharves, boat launching facilities, picnic facilities and amenities. ADMINISTRATION The Manager, Coast and Floodplain Programs of the then Department of Environment and Climate Change, Mr Brian Dooley, managed the affa irs of the Authority on behalf of the Minister as his formally appointed delegate. Administration was conducted from the Wollongong Office of the Department of Environment and Climate Change. From July 2009 the affairs of the Authority will be managed by the Land and Property Management Authority. The office address of the Chipping Norton Lake Authority is: State Office Block Level 3 84 Crown Street WOLLONGONG NSW 2500 (PO Box 867, Wollongong NSW 2520) Telephone No: (02) 4224 9633 Facsimile No: (02) 4224 9651 Business Hours: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Monday to Friday) 2 AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE RELEVANT TO THE CHIPPING NORTON LAKE AUTHORITY GOVERNING ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS For 2008-09 Minister for Lands Han Tony Kelly By Interim Agreement Department of Environment and Climate Change (1) Minister's Delegate Brian Dooley BE, M Eng Sc Project Manager Natural Resource Officer Scott Renwick r--- Administration Cert Civil Eng Pam Outtrim Various other Internal and External Resources (1) Whilst the Minister for Lands retains responsibility for the Authority, discussions between the then Department of Lands and the then Department of Environment and Climate Change identified that the best and most cost effective method of concluding work on Authority projects was to have the same staff who had managed the Authority's affairs since 1995 continue v.ith that role. This recognised that the work of supporting the Authority was significant but did not require dedication of staff resources on a full time basis. 3 IMPROVEMENT WORKS General Gross pollution entering the Lakes via stormwater systems collects in foreshore vegetation resulting in major impacts on the amenity of the Lake Scheme. Since 2003/04, the Authority has had an agreement with the Georges River Combined Councils Committee (GRCC) and the Department of Corrective Services for the collection and disposal of gross pollution within the Lakes Scheme. Under arrangements agreed with the Authority, the GRCCC Riverkeeper Program coordinated the project utilising participants in the Corrective Services Periodic Detention Program. The Authority provided in-kind support during 2008-09. During the year the Authority spent $7,000 on hydrographic surveys to monitor changes in river bed levels. The surveys confirmed the creation of the lake scheme has not generated instabilities in the bed of the lakes or the Georges River Major Works Liverpool Weir Remediation I nvestigations by the Authority revealed EngineersAustralia SydneyDivision that the Liverpool Weir was under threat of catastrophic failure. The heritage listed ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE weir was built in 1836 by convict iron gangs AWARDS to a design by renowned colonial bridge designer, David Lennox. The weir is one of 2009 the few remaining Colonial engineering :Environment arufJ-{eritage structures of its type of State Heritage 'Exce[Jence Award" 'Presentea to Significance. CliipyingNorton Lake Autliority The Liverpool Weir Remediation Project Joint Xntrant: J\.ntoun Civil'EllBineerinn received the Environment and Heritage LiveryooCWeir'R.emeatatiJJn Excellence Award from the Sydney Division of Engineers Australia for the protection of the natural environment, for conserving our • ProudlySponsoml by engineering heritage and for remediating �s --.. ... .,.. /' -- environmental damage. The weir is no longer important for securing a water supply for the settlement of Liverpool or as a river crossing. Under other circumstances significant environmental benefits would be gained from the removal of a weir that no longer serves such purposes.