BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Bellingen Shire Council Title Bellinger 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). Bellinger River Health Plan. Bellinger Shire Council, NSW. ISBN 978 0 9807685 1 0 (Hard copy) ISBN 978 0 9807685 0 3 (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 Bellinger River estuary Bellingen Shire Healthy Rivers Program Bellinger River Health Plan BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Foreword Bellinger 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. Declining water quality and consumer protection have forced government and the aquaculture industry to introduce the Shellfish Quality Assurance Program which regularly monitors water quality and sets rules for the commercial harvesting of oysters. In 2006 the Shellfish Quality Assurance Program closed the Bellinger River to the harvesting of oysters due to persistently high coliform counts. A Working Group comprising Bellingen Shire Council, government agencies and the oyster industry was established to identify the origin and source of the problem and then institute measures to avoid recurrence in the future. Bellingen Shire Council established a River Keeper position to prepare the Bellinger River Health Plan with support from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (Estuary Management Program). The River Keeper has worked with individuals and groups within the Shire, as well as a number of agencies, to finalise the plan. The Plan documents the issues which affect river health from community and agency perspectives. It recommends actions to address these issues and improve water quality though improved land management practice. The Plan aims to: ■ engage and motivate the community and Council to adopt improved practices and move towards accepted best practice ■ identify potential improvements for agency engagement and coordination ■ inform Council and the community on water quality issues ■ initiate action with all stakeholders ■ identify barriers, gaps and improve coordination of current management activities ■ provide a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating change. The Bellinger River Health Plan is an important component of the long term strategy to improve water quality in the Bellinger River and avoid future closures to the commercial harvesting of oysters. John Williams Chair Bellinger River Working Group I BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN II BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Acknowledgements The development of the Bellinger River Health plan was initiated by Bellingen Shire Council and funded by the Department of Environment and Climate Change 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 and Climate Change 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 Ms Sandy Eager who volunteered her time to assist with the development of the plan and Mr Mathew Birch for the development of the Desk Top Review, your input was very valuable. 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 oyster farmers and dairy farmers 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. This is our plan and only the beginning. Mike Colreavy General Manager Bellingen Shire Council 200 III BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN IV BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Foreword i Acknowledgements iii CONTENTS v Executive Summary INTRODUCTION 7 Background 7 What is a Healthy Bellinger River? 8 Purpose of the Bellinger 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/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 Riparian and Wetland Management 23 Overview 23 Current Status 24 Community Agency Response 26 Best Practice Riparian Management 27 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 27 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Riparian and Wetland Management 29 Impacts: Erosion, Sedimentation, Flood Impacts and Biodiversity Onsite Sewage Management Systems (OSMS) 3 Overview 31 Current status 31 Community/Agency Response 33 Best Practice On-Site Sewage Management 34 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 35 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Management Of OSMS 36 Impacts: Pollution V BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Boating, Tourism and Recreational Impacts 39 Overview 39 Current status 39 Hydrocarbon Pollution 40 Biological Pollution 41 Community and Agency Response 41 Community Response 42 Best Practice Management of Boating Issues 43 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 43 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Boating, Tourism and Recreational Use 45 Impacts: Pollution, Erosion, Sedimentation and Safety Stormwater and Building Construction 7 Overview 47 Current Status 48 Community and Agency Response 49 Best Practice 49 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 50 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Stormwater and Construction Site Management 51 Impacts: Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Rural Roads and Bridges 53 Overview 53 Current Status 53 Community and Agency Response 54 Best Practice 54 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 54 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Rural Roads and Bridges 55 Impacts: Erosion and Sedimentation Forestry, Logging and Clearing 57 Overview 57 Current Status 57 Community and Agency Response 59 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 Oil and Diesel and Waste Spills From Roads 6 Overview 61 Current Practice 61 Community and Agency Response 61 Best Practice 61 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 61 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Oil, Diesel and Waste Spills from Roads 62 Impacts: Pollution VI BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Waste Water Treatment Plants 63 Overview 63 Current Status 63 Community and Agency Response 65 Best Practice 65 Barriers and Key Considerations for Change 65 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Waste Water Treatment Plants 66 Impact: Pollution Water Quality Monitoring 67 Overview 67 Current Status 68 Community and Agency Response 69 Best Practice 69 TABLE: Strategic Approach to Water Quality Monitoring 71 Impact: Water Quality OTHER ISSUES 73 Dredging and Sand Extraction 73 Overview 73 Current Status 73 Best Practice 74 Gravel Extraction on the Bellinger 7 Overview 74 Current Status 74 Best Practice 75 Acid Sulfate Soils 75 Overview 75 Current Status 75 Best Practice 76 Heavy Metal Pollution 77 Overview 77 Current Status 77 Best Practice 77 Licensed Source Inputs to the Bellinger River 78 Overview 78 Current Status 78 Best Practice 78 Climate Change Considerations 78 Overview 78 Current Status 78 Best Practice 79 VII BELLINGER RIVER HEALTH PLAN Sea Level Rise 79 Overview 79 Current Status 79 Best Practice 80 RIVER HEALTH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 8 Education 81 Co-ordination 81 Communication 82 Program