Kalang River Health Plan
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KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN BellingenBelligen ShireShire CouncilCouncil Bellingen Shire Healthy Rivers Program Kalang River Health Plan Title Kalang River Health Plan Date of Publication March 2010 Copyright Copyright © 2010, Bellingen Shire Council. Along with any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this report may also be reproduced in part or whole for the purposes of study, research, review and/or general information provided clear acknowledgement of the source is made. Citation Bellingen Shire Council (2010). Kalang River Health Plan. Bellingen Shire Council, NSW. ISBN 978 0 9807685 2 7 (Hard copy) ISBN 978 0 9807685 3 4 (Digital copy) Digital Copy Access This report can be accessed and downloaded on line at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au by following the Environment prompt to the Healthy Rivers Program. Disclaimer While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this report is accurate, complete and current at the time of publication, no warranty is given or implied that it is free of error or omission. No liability is accepted for any material or financial loss, damage, cost or injury arising from the use of this report. Funding Support This report has been prepared by Bellingen Shire Council with financial assistance from the NSW Government through the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. This document does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NSW Government or the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Cover Image Kalang River estuary Bellingen Shire Healthy Rivers Program Kalang River Health Plan KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Foreword Kalang River Health Plan Our coastal waterways are under increasing pressure from population growth and change to the traditional low impact industries. Oyster leases dating back to the days of small coastal hamlets are now surrounded by expanding urban and semi rural populations, while agricultural industries such as dairying have become more intensive. In July 2008 the Kalang River was closed for the recreational and commercial harvesting of shellfish following the detection of human norovirus in oysters. Funded by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and Bellingen Shire Council, the Kalang River Health Plan has been produced to address issues which affect river health from community and agency perspectives. It recommends actions to address these issues and improve water quality through improved land management practice. The Kalang River Health Plan is an important component of the long term strategy to improve water quality in the Kalang River and protect industry and the community. John Williams Chair Kalang River Working Group I KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN II KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Acknowledgements The development of the Kalang River Health Plan was initiated by Bellingen Shire Council and funded by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water through the Estuary Management program in partnership with Bellingen Shire Council. Thank you; this Plan could only be developed because of your vision. Many thanks to the Healthy Rivers Reference Group - Mr Ian Turnbull Manager of Vegetation and Environment Bellingen Shire Council; Mr Mohammed Hanif, Natural Resources Project Officer, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and Dr Colin Mathews, Coordinator Bellingen Landcare Inc. for their guidance, support and assistance with the development of this Plan, it was much appreciated. To Mr Mike Edsall, Director of Engineering and Operations, thank you for your support and advice throughout the process. Thank you to Mr Barry Fenning for all his assistance throughout the program and Ms Julie Spokes for her administrative assistance, your input was very valuable. Thank you also to Ms Maria Spencer for her assistance with the development of the Plan and Mr Mathew Birch for the development of the Desk Top Review. Thank you to Ms Tania Malone, River Keeper, for your commitment and diligence in bringing together all the information, ideas and views of all parties to make this document a working blueprint for ongoing action. Thanks also to the many agencies including Bellingen Shire staff that participated in the process and provided significant information needed for this Plan. Finally, but certainly not least, much appreciation to the vast number of Bellingen Shire residents, visitors and industry, particularly the farmers and oyster industry who have supported the Healthy Rivers Program by being involved in the consultations and providing essential information and direction needed for healthy rivers now and in the future. Mike Colreavy General Manager Bellingen Shire Council 200 III KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN IV KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Foreword i Acknowledgements ii CONTENTS v Executive Summary INTRODUCTION 7 Background 7 What is a Healthy Kalang River? 8 Purpose of the Kalang River Health Plan 9 Methodology 9 Community Consultation 10 Agency Stakeholder Survey 10 Desktop Review 10 Strategic Approach 11 Links to Other Documents 11 Study Area 12 KEY RIVER HEALTH ISSUES 5 Agricultural Practices 5 Overview 15 Current Status 16 Community and Agency Response 17 Best Practice 18 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 18 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Agricultural Practices 19 Impacts: Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution On-site Sewage Management Systems (OSMS) 23 Overview 23 Current Status 23 Community and Agency Response 25 Best Practice On-site Sewage Management Systems 26 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 27 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Management of OSMS 28 Impacts: Pollution Riparian and Wetland Management 3 Overview 31 Current Status 32 Community and Agency Response 35 Best Practice Riparian Management 36 Barriers and KeyConsiderations for Change 36 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Riparian and Wetland Management 38 Impacts: Erosion, Sedimentation, Flood Impacts and Biodiversity V KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Boating, Tourism and Recreational Impacts Overview 41 Current Status 42 Hydrocarbon Pollution 42 Biological Pollution 43 Community and Agency Response 43 Community Response 44 Best Practice Management of Boating Issues 45 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 45 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Boating, Tourism and Recreational Use 48 Impacts: Pollution, Erosion, Sedimentation and Safety Waste Water Treatment Plants 5 Overview 51 Current Status 52 Community and Agency Response 53 Best Practice 54 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 54 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Waste Water Treatment Plants 55 Impact: Pollution Forestry, Logging and Clearing 57 Overview 57 Current Status 57 Community and Agency Response 58 Best Practice Forestry Operations for River Health 59 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 59 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Forestry, Logging and Land Clearing 60 Impacts: Erosion and Sedimentation Stormwater and Building Construction 6 Overview 61 Current Status 61 Community and Agency Response 63 Best Practice 64 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 65 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Stormwater and Building Construction 66 Impacts: Pollution Rural Roads and Bridges 69 Overview 69 Current Status 69 Community and Agency Response 70 Best Practice 70 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 70 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Rural Roads and Bridges 71 Impacts: Erosion and Sedimentation VI KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Water Quality Monitoring 73 Overview 73 Current Status 74 Community and Agency Response 74 Best Practice 75 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Water Quality Monitoring 76 Impacts: Pollution and Safety OTHER ISSUES 77 Acid Sulfate Soils 77 Overview 77 Current Status 77 Best Practice 78 Heavy Metal Pollution 78 Overview 78 Current Status 78 Best Practice 79 Licensed Source Inputs to the Kalang/Bellinger River 79 Overview 79 Current Status 79 Best Practice 79 Climate Change Considerations 80 Overview 80 Current Status 80 Best Practice 80 Sea Level Rise 8 Overview 81 Current Status 81 Best Practice 82 RIVER HEALTH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 83 Education 83 Coordination 83 Communication 84 Program Sustainability 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY 85 VII KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN APPENDICES 88 Appendix A: Summary of the Results of the Community Consultations by Area 89 Upper Kalang 89 Middle Kalang 92 Lower Kalang 94 Newry Island 97 Urunga 99 Appendix B: 101 Summary of Key Agencies and Community Priority Areas of Action to Improve Water Quality and River Health Appendix C: 102 Strategic Approach Tables for the Priority River Health Issues Appendix D: 120 Key Stakeholder Agencies and their Roles, Responsibilities and Priorities Appendix E: 123 Key Stakeholder Agencies and their Legislative Responsibilities Appendix F: 125 Summary of Recommendations to Reduce River Health Impacts from Boating and Improve Behaviours Appendix G: 127 Examples of Best Practice Guidelines Appendix H: 128 Relevant Commonwealth and State Legislation Relevant Planning Framework Instruments Appendix I: 129 Relevant Planning Framework Instruments Appendix J: 130 Partnership Approach Poster and Abstract Appendix K: 132 Kalang Water Quality Results VIII KALANG RIVER HEALTH PLAN Executive Summary The Kalang River Health Plan (the Plan) has been A three-part approach to developing the Plan was prepared on behalf of Bellingen Shire Council adopted. This included a community engagement (Council) and the Department of Environment, Climate process, a survey of key agencies involved in natural Change and Water (DECCW) under the Estuary resource management (including government), and Management Program. The